(07-03-2025, 08:00 PM)gortex Wrote: A new Far Left party is born , Zarah Sultana has quit the Labour party to lead a new party with Jeremy Corbyn ,
Corbyn started The Independent Alliance late last year so I'm guessing it's that...

...More problems for Kier I think , disaffected Labour MPs now have somewhere to run and the Muslim vote
have their champion in a party to represent them led by one of them.

Nigel will be happy.

Quote:The sale of illegal cigarettes signals a deeper problem with UK high streets

'It's pitch black and we're crawling along a secret underground tunnel beneath a high street in Hull.
We pass rotting beams propped up precariously by stacked breeze blocks. A rusty car jack is helping prevent
the shop floor above from falling in.

Through the rubble, we follow a Trading Standards Officer, his torch swinging back and forth in the darkness
until it rests on a hidden stash of thousands of illegal cigarettes.


Rack 'em and stack 'em.

This is just one such surreal experience while investigating the sale of illegal cigarettes in Hull. In one week
we repeatedly witnessed counterfeit and smuggled tobacco being sold in high street mini marts - and were
threatened by shop workers who grabbed our cameras when we tried to film them.

This is now a familiar story being repeated across Britain. In April, the National Crime Agency (NCA) raided
hundreds of high street businesses, many suspected of being supplied by international crime gangs. Trading
Standards teams have also found a thriving trade in illicit tobacco.

One leading criminology expert called the networks behind the supply of illegal cigarettes the "golden thread
for understanding serious organised crime", because of its links to people trafficking and, in some cases,
illegal immigration. So, in some ways, these high street shop fronts connect the various domestic problems
facing Britain today. Political researchers claim it's also damaging trust in police and the government - and
turning our high streets into symbols of national decline.

'We're losing the war'
Alan, a former detective and now a Trading Standards officer, searches for counterfeit and smuggled cigarettes
sold under the counter in mini marts, barber shops and takeaways around Hull, which he says have spread
across the city at an alarming rate.

Under the floorboards of a mini mart called Ezee Shop, a network of these secret tunnels hide contraband stock.
As battered suitcases and black sacks stuffed full of cigarettes are heaved up through the makeshift trap door, a
man who we're told helps out in the shop watches on laughing.

"It's not something dangerous, it's only cigarettes," he says. "Everywhere has it; barber shops, takeaways."
Some shops, he adds, are selling drugs including crack cocaine.


BBC join police on illegal cigarette raid.

Alan estimates that there are about £20,000 worth of illegal cigarettes in this haul, a tiny proportion of a crime
that HMRC says costs the country at least £2.2 billion in lost revenue. Today's raid won't change what's happening
on Hull's high streets, he says. He has been to some shops at least 20 times and he estimates that there are
some 80 shops selling illegal cigarettes in the city. "We're losing the war," he says.

He has been with Trading Standards for many years but didn't want to be fully identified because he's worried
about the organised crime gangs often supplying these shops. It's not long before someone claiming to be Ezee
Shop's owner turns up. Alan says he is a Kurd from Iran. He is furious with us filming his illicit stock being taken
way.

Dead flies and asbestos in cigarettes
Some of the illegal cigarettes sold across Britain are made in this country. Others are produced cheaply in
countries like Poland or Belgium. Some are designed to imitate established brands. Illegal cigarettes are sold
without the necessary taxes and duties, and many do not conform to safety standards.

Previously the Local Government Association warned that some black market cigarettes contained "human
excrement, dead flies and asbestos". We went undercover, visiting 12 shops in Hull, some multiple times,
to try and buy these cheap cigarettes, and secretly filmed the responses. The windows of many of these
shops are covered with large pictures of fizzy drinks, sweets and vapes, obscuring what's going on inside.

Nine sold us illegal cigarettes and hand-rolling tobacco. Two told us where we could buy cheap packs.
We were openly offered a selection of brands with packets costing between £3 and £7 - instead of the
average UK price of about £16. None of the businesses we bought illegal cigarettes from in Hull responded
to our request for a comment. But this is not only a Hull problem.

Data shared with the BBC from investigators working for an international tobacco company say that last
year they identified more than 600 shops selling illegal packets, with several cities including Bradford,
Coventry and Nottingham flagged as hotspots. The BBC is unable to verify these figures. In Bradford
alone, they say they found 49 stores selling fake products in just two days. In the end, they had to stop
the test purchases because they didn't have enough test bags to put the items in.

Are fines and penalties too low?
All of this is a growing problem - but it is also one with specific causes: profits, a lack of resources to
enforce the law, a complex criminal supply network and in some cases organised immigration crime.
Professor Georgios Antonopoulos, criminologist at Northumbria University Newcastle, believes money
is at the heart of it. "Legal tobacco products in the UK are subject to some of the highest excise taxes
in the world," he says.

Illegal cigarettes are sometimes sold for as little as £3 to £5 per pack - compelling for some customers
during a cost of living crisis. In some cases, the financial penalties issued to criminals may be much lower
than the profits they can make. In the case of Ezee Shop in Hull, the shop owner had been convicted for
selling illegal cigarettes in the past and was fined £80, plus costs and a £34 victim surcharge.

Tougher rules introduced in 2023 mean those convicted now can face higher fines of up to £10,000 - but
this may still be lower than the value of the stash.

After the raid, we went back to the shop, covertly. Within a few hours it had reopened, restocked - and was
selling illegal cigarettes once again.

Struggles with law enforcement
Leading criminologists tell the BBC that UK authorities are struggling to deal with the problem.
Prof Antonopoulos says teams are "chronically underfunded". He claims that police prioritise violent crimes
and drug trafficking - "which is understandable," he adds.

Some Trading Standards officers are frustrated with the powers available to them. "The general public don't
understand why they can't be closed down," Alan says. They can use anti-social behaviour legislation to close
shops for up to three months - but it can require statements from other businesses and members of the public.
We were told that after some shops shut down, the criminals simply reopen nearby. Alan wants a 'three strikes
and you're out' policy to permanently close law-breaking businesses.


The BBC visited 12 shops in Hull. Here, the BBC's UK Editor Ed Thomas speaks to a shop assistant.

Last year, the previous government provided £100 million across five years to support HMRC and Border Force
to tackle the illicit tobacco trade. But since then, the Chartered Trading Standards Institute warned that some
broader forms of organised crime - including scammers and rogue traders - could effectively become decriminalised,
due to a lack of funding. As for the suppliers, HMRC says there are so many organised crime groups operating
across borders that it is hard to limit the flow of goods into the UK.

In May, Hungarian authorities raided a factory where they found warehouses full of fake cigarettes. And there's
even production in Ukraine, according to legitimate tobacco firms, with authorities there stretched because of
the war.

Chinese triads have a 'vast business'
There is also a "significant production" of illicit tobacco here in the UK, says Prof Antonopoulos.
A Trading Standards team in south Wales told us that counterfeit hand-rolling tobacco is often sold cheaply.
They claimed that some of it was made using forced labour, controlled by Chinese gangs. Dave McKelvey,
managing director of TM Eye private investigators, which works with tobacco firms to gather evidence on
the illicit trade, claims that Fujian-based Chinese triads operate a "vast business" here in the UK.

And trying to track down the people in charge of these criminal enterprises is a challenge.
Trading Standards told the BBC that those named as the company director often have no real involvement in
the company. Instead, they may be paid a small sum each month to be listed as the director on official documents.
Later this year, Companies House will receive new powers to better identify business owners.

Employing illegal workers
Authorities are trying to clean up British high streets. Just this year, we joined dozens of raids led by the NCA
in barber shops and mini marts, in a month-long operation. But the former senior detectives who worked with
the BBC's undercover team said they need more time to fully expose the organised crime supplying some of
the shop fronts.

Throughout our time with Trading Standards in Hull and in the dozens of raids we've been on with police in
Shrewsbury and across Greater Manchester, officers claimed that tobacco operations are often staffed by Kurds
from Iran and Iraq. Some may not have had the right to work.

In Hull, Alan believes that some people working in the shops he visits may be recruited from asylum seeker
hotels. "They're expendable, if they get caught they just replace them with another. Rochdale Trading Standards
has made similar observations.

Criminology professor Emmeline Taylor argues that these criminal supply chains behind the supply of illegal
tobacco are linked to other forms of crime - and the damage can't be overestimated. "They're not just dealing
in tobacco," she says. "It's firearms, it's drugs, it's people trafficking, it's illegal immigration."

The Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, told us it is a "total disgrace" that "criminal gangs are trying to abuse
our high streets by using shops as a front for organised crime". She also accused gangs of "undermining our
border and immigration systems by employing illegal workers".

Pockets of criminality on high streets
Of course, there have long been pockets of criminality on the UK high street. But now experts tell us that this
illicit trade is harming people's trust in authority - and, at a basic level, their sense of fairness. "If you're a law
abiding business following the rules, you're jeopardising your own livelihood and the viability of your own
business," argues Prof Taylor. "And to me that's not fair that someone can succeed by not playing by the rules."

Josh Nicholson, a researcher at the Centre for Social Justice, believes that perceptions of crime are worse than
ever. "From research we have done there is a feeling of powerlessness, a lack of respect for authority like the
police," he says. "Are the police... seen to be tackling low level offences? When they don't see it tackled, people's
perception is that things are getting a lot worse." And people tend to trust the government less when they think
access to good shops has declined in their area, says Will Jennings, a political science professor at the University
of Southampton, based on studies he has done.'

Quote:Chilling 48 hours in London sees two fatally stabbed, three teens knifed
and two girls arrested

It’s been a busy few days for the Metropolitan Police with multiple stabbings

'It’s been a busy few days for the Metropolitan Police with multiple stabbings, a shooting,
a horror crash, and a pavement soaked in blood after a man had his face slashed. The
bloodshed wasn’t concentrated to one part of the capital either, all corners have seen
emergency services incidents recently.

There were murders in Chingford and Vauxhall, a shooting in Neasden, a triple stabbing
in Northwood Hills, a double-stabbing in Erith, someone was slashed in Willesden, while
the A13 witnessed a horror crash. Two people have sadly died in one incident.

It comes as The latest data for the period May 2024–April 2025 shows a 3% decrease in
violent crime in London compared with the previous year- down to approximately 257,000
incidents. National statistics reveal that while overall homicides and firearm offences have
fallen, offences involving knives or sharp instruments have seen slight increases - about
2 % year‑on‑year up to December 2024.'

London-specific initiatives, such as its Violence Reduction Unit, have supported reductions
in youth reoffending and homicide rates.

Man dies in Vauxhall - murder investigation launched

'A man, now known to be Daniel Manuel, was stabbed to death inside a home on Broadway,
in Vauxhall, just after 5.35am on Saturday, July 5, following an alleged fight. Two men
- aged 35 and 33 - were arrested on suspicion of murder, with the former, now named
as Abdul Kareem Fawaz of Bondway.

Detective Inspector Aytac Necati who is leading the investigation said: “Sadly, a man has
lost his life in the most horrendous of circumstances. Our thoughts are with his family and
friends at this difficult time.

“We understand the effect this will have on the local community, and will ensure that officers
are deployed on reassurance patrols to respond to any questions or concerns."

Fatal stabbing on busy Chingford street

'A 26-year-old man was stabbed to death on a busy street in Chingford, East London. The
victim, who has not yet been named, was knifed on Chingford Mount Road just before
9.15pm on Sunday (July 6), with members of the public raising the alarm to police
officers on patrol.

Chief Superintendent Dan Card, who leads policing in the local area, said: "We are deeply
saddened by the events that took place last night and our thoughts remain with the man’s
family at this hugely difficult time. Detectives are working hard to establish the
circumstances of what happened yesterday evening.

"We understand the impact this incident will have on the local community and officers are
being deployed on reassurance patrols to help answer any questions or concerns."

Erith double-stabbing

'Two 16-year-old girls have been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder following a
double stabbing by The Nursery, Erith. Two women - aged 47 and 18 - were rushed to
hospital. They received life-changing but not life-threatening injuries.

A 16-year-old girl was arrested that day on suspicion of attempted murder. She has been
charged with two counts of GBH and appeared for a hearing at Bromley Magistrates’
Court on Tuesday, 8 July.A second 16-year-old girl that was arrested at the same
time in connection with the incident has been bailed pending further enquiries.

Northwood Hills triple stabbing

'A triple stabbing left three men in A&E. Cops raced to Joel Street, Northwood Hills,
Northwood, Hillingdon at around 1.05pm yesterday (Monday, July 7), where they
found the trio.

A Met Police spokesperson said: “At 1.04pm on Monday, July 7, officers and the
London Ambulance Service responded to reports of a stabbing on Joel Street,
Northwood Hills. Three men were found at the scene with stab wounds.

“They were treated by paramedics and then taken to hospital. One victim aged 19
has been discharged from hospital - his injuries were not deemed life-changing or
life-threatening. He was arrested on suspicion of affray and remains in police
custody. The other two victims remain in hospital.

“The injuries of one, aged 18 have not been deemed life-changing or life-threatening
– we await an update on the condition of the second man, aged 17. They have also
been arrested on suspicion of affray.'

Neasden shooting

'A man in his 30s was raced to A&E after he was shot in North-West London. The
emergency services raced to Tanfield Avenue, Neasden, at 9pm yesterday (Monday,
July 7) to reports of gunfire. There they found a man who was taken to a major
trauma centre as priority.

A Met Police spokepserson said: “At around 9pm on Monday, July 7, officers were
called by the London Ambulance Service to an incident in Tanfield Avenue, Neasden.
Officers attended the scene alongside paramedics and found a 30-year-old man with
gunshot wounds. "He was treated at the scene before being taken to hospital.

His injuries are not life-threatening. No arrests have been made at this stage and
enquiries continue."' “The man was taken to hospital where his injuries were deemed not
to be life-changing or life-threatening. No arrests have been made at this time and a
crime scene remains in place while officers continue to investigate.'

Willesden man has face slashed

'A 30-year-old was slashed in the face at a shop in Willesden Green yesterday morning
(July 7). He was attacked in front of Pound Village, on High Road, just before midday,
with staff saying they were threatened with a knife.

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: "Police were called at 11:53hrs on Monday,
July 7, to reports of a man with a knife threatening a member of staff in a shop in
High Road, Willesden Green NW10. Officers and the London Ambulance Service
attended and found a 30-year-old man suffering a slash injury to his face.'

Brixton fire

'Part of Brixton went up in flames, forcing the Tube station to shut. Ten fire engines and
around 70 firefighters tackled the blaze on the famous Electric Avenue, having arrived at
about 9.40am today (Monday, July 7). The Met Police has since said that a man, aged
in his 40s, has been arrested on suspicion of arson. He's still in police custody.'

(Yesterday, 05:39 PM)gortex Wrote: Shameful behaviour is not just happening on the streets of London , shameful behaviour by elected "representatives" when Farage is trying to ask a question at PMQs and an utterly deluded response from the PM.

Quote:‘Serious blunder’ over Islamic State murder of Rochdale Imam

'A “serious blunder” led to missed opportunities to disrupt a plot by Islamic State extremists to
kill a Rochdale Imam, a public inquiry has found.

Highly respected Jalal Uddin, 71, was bludgeoned to death with a hammer in a public park by
Mohammed Kadir, then aged 24, because he practised a form of Islamic healing the terror
group regarded as “black magic”.

Kadir, from Oldham, fled to Syria afterwards but his getaway driver, Mohammed Syeedy, 21,
a former Manchester United steward and charity worker from Rochdale, was jailed for life for
the murder on February 18 2016.


Imam Jalal Uddin.                                                              Mohammed Syeedy.

A third man, Mohammed Syadul Hussain, who had already come under police scrutiny after his
nephew, aged eight, went into school saying he wanted to join the Taliban, was jailed for five
years for helping Kadir leave the UK days after the killing.

A public inquiry was held, chaired by His Honour Thomas Teague KC, which involved both public
and private “closed” hearings, to protect national security. Both a public and “closed” report, not
made public has now been released.

The public report, laid before Parliament today, found all three men convicted after the murder
had previously come to the attention of the police, and highlights that Mohammed Kadir was
known to Counter Terrorism Police at the time of Mr Uddin’s murder and by the end of October
2015 had been identified as a person of high risk and significant concern.

Although the need for a targeted police investigation into his activities had been recognised by
December 10 2015, the steps necessary to set up such an investigation, including the appointment
of a senior investigating officer (SIO) to head it, were not taken.

The report states that a potential appointee was identified within North West Counter Terrorism Unit
(NWCTU), however for reasons beyond the control of that officer and of NWCTU, the steps necessary
to place him in a position to take up the duties of an SIO were not taken.
The exact details of what happened has not been made public.

Judge Teague’s report adds: “In summary, my conclusion is that this failure, the detailed consequences
of which I have traced in my closed report, amounted to a serious blunder that led to the loss of two
opportunities to detect or disrupt the activities of Kadir and Syeedy before Mr Uddin was murdered.
“Above all, I extend my condolences to Mr Uddin’s family and friends.”

The reason for the killing was that Mr Uddin practised a form of healing, known as ruqyah, which they
regarded as blasphemous and his murder was a message that such practices would not be tolerated.
The inquiry’s findings say the investigations into the activities of Kadir and Hussain before the murder
of Jalal Uddin were hampered by “serious mistakes”.

Former detective inspector Frank Morris, who retired from Greater Manchester Police (GMP) in 2021,
told the inquiry an investigation into Hussain had been closed down prematurely two years before the
murder. Later, the failure to appoint an SIO led to the two “missed opportunities”.

The first was that Kadir’s Facebook posts of September 2015 might have been scrutinised. They were
captured by police but not reviewed before the murder. Kadir’s social media post had described Imams
like Mr Uddin as “dirty kufr people” and vowed to “take this on” to “paralyse them” and asked for prayers,
“that we do not get caught”.

The report says the second missed opportunity was that even if the plot itself had not been detected
through close analysis of the Facebook posts, other police investigative actions concerning Kadir might
havedetected the plot or, even if only incidentally, disrupted it.

Just a month before the killing, intelligence suggested that Kadir had access to openly available extremist
literature, including bomb-making manuals and other material providing instructions on how to undertake
violent jihad. The report adds: “The failure to make a prompt and effective appointment of an SIO thus led
to the irretrievable loss of opportunities which, had they been acted upon, might have prevented the murder
of Jalal Uddin.”

Kadir’s exact whereabouts are unknown. The former call-centre worker is believed to have fled to Syria and
it is not known if he is still alive. Syeedy is still serving his life sentence. Both had been consumed by hatred
of Mr Uddin after becoming supporters of Islamic State (IS), Syeedy’s trial heard.

Father-of-seven Mr Uddin, from Bangladesh, was a “gentle, well-respected man” whose funeral in Rochdale
was attended by 2,000 locals...'