NewzIntel.com

Category: Police

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Alabama Police Officer Pleads Guilty to Federal Civil Rights Violation and Child Sexual Exploitation

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    A former Killen, Alabama, Police Department officer pleaded guilty yesterday for sexually assaulting a woman while on duty and for receiving sexually explicit photos of a minor.

    As part of the plea agreement, Jarrod Gailen Webster admitted that, on Nov. 12, 2023, he violated the civil rights of a woman after initiating a traffic stop on the woman’s vehicle. Webster asked the woman to step out of her vehicle and he asked her what she wanted to do to “get out of this.” When the woman told Webster that she was not going to do anything for him, Webster handcuffed the woman and sexually assaulted her.

    Further, Webster admitted that, between June 2016 and October 2018, he communicated with a minor by phone. Webster asked the minor to produce and send him sexually explicit images of herself. The minor victim sent multiple photos to Webster at his request, at least one of which constituted child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

    “Jarrod Webster took an oath to protect and serve citizens of his community. He violated that oath when he sexually assaulted a woman and exploited a minor to produce and send sexually explicit images,” said U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona for the Northern District of Alabama. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure that those who violate positions of public trust are held accountable for their actions.”

    “Police officers are given immense trust and responsibility to serve and protect, and are therefore held to a higher standard, so there are serious consequences when one tarnishes the badge by breaking the law,” said Special Agent in Charge Carlton Peeples of the FBI Birmingham Field Office. “Jarrod Gailen Webster disgraced the uniform when he abused his authority, his sentencing affirms that the FBI has zero tolerance for officials who prey on the citizens they have sworn to protect.”

    Webster pleaded guilty to one count of deprivation of rights under color of law and one count of sexual exploitation of children. He is scheduled to be sentenced on May 20.

    Webster faces a maximum penalty of life in prison, five years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000 for the count of deprivation of rights under color of law. He faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years and maximum penalty of 30 years in prison, supervised release for life, and a fine of up to $250,000 for the count of sexual exploitation of children. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    The FBI Birmingham Field Office investigated the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Royster for the Northern District of Alabama and Senior Sex Crimes Counsel Maura White and Trial Attorney Sarah Howard of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Large-scale cocaine importers sentenced to federal prison

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    STATESBORO, GA:  Two men who supplied kilograms of cocaine for a major drug trafficking conspiracy have been sentenced to federal prison.

    Pedro Castro-Vasquez, a/k/a “Chipo,” 53, of Puerto Rico, and Sonic Torres-Garcia, 27, of Kissimmee, Florida,  were each sentenced after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute, and to Distribute, Cocaine, said Tara M. Lyons, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Judge J. Randal Hall sentenced Castro-Vasquez to 180 months in prison and a fine of $1,500, followed by three years of supervised release, and sentenced Torres-Garcia to 180 months in prison, consecutive to other pending state and federal cases, and a fine of $2,500, followed by three years of supervised release.

    There is no parole in the federal system.

    “The conspiracy identified in this multi-year investigation was responsible for importing and distributing large quantities of drugs in the Southern District,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Lyons. “Multiple law enforcement agencies persisted through this lengthy investigation in identifying the key players in this drug trafficking operation, holding them accountable for spreading misery in the Southern District.”

    As described in the 49-count indictment unsealed in November 2022, Operation Carpet Ride identified a drug trafficking conspiracy operating in Bulloch, Burke, Candler, Effingham, Evans, Liberty, Richmond, and Tattnall counties, and elsewhere, from as early as January 2016. Led by Daniel Morales-Jimenez, a/k/a “Danny Hill,” 48, of Puerto Rico, the conspiracy imported large quantities of cocaine, methamphetamine and other drugs from and through Puerto Rico, into Florida and the Southern District. Morales-Jimenez pled guilty to federal conspiracy charges in both the Southern District and in Puerto Rico and awaits sentencing.

    Castro-Vasquez was identified as a kilo-quantity distributor who obtained cocaine from Morales-Jimenez, arranging importation into the continental United States for distribution in the Southern District. Torres-Garcia supplied kilos of cocaine to Demarr Clayton Lee, 55, of Miami, Florida, while also arranging to deliver cocaine to the Southern District using members of his family. Lee, who pled guilty in the conspiracy, is serving a sentence of 98 months in federal prison, while 26 other defendants in Operation Carpet Ride are serving sentences of up to 240 months in prison after pleading guilty. 

    “This case represents the continued commitment of the Drug Enforcement Administration to identify and hold accountable those who engage in the distribution of dangerous drugs,” said Jae W. Chung, the Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division.

    “The U.S. Postal Inspection Service employs a whole-of-government approach to combatting illicit drugs in the mail,” said Steven Hodges, Acting Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Miami Division. “This case, and our partnerships, illustrate our strategy in action. Protecting the American public through criminal investigations like this is a top priority of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.”

    The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach.

    The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Homeland Security Investigations; the Georgia Bureau of Investigation; the Puerto Rico State Police; the Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles; the Georgia Department of Community Supervision; the Tattnall County Sheriff’s Office; the Bulloch County Sheriff’s Office; the Evans County Sheriff’s Office; the Barceloneta Police Department; the Claxton Police Department; and the Glennville Police Department; and prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Frank M. Pennington II and OCDETF Coordinator Marcela C. Mateo. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Detectives name teenager shot in Stockwell

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    Detectives investigating the murder of a boy shot in Stockwell have named him, while they continue appeals for witnesses and information.

    Lathaniel Burrell from Stockwell sadly died at the scene following yesterday’s shooting. He was 16-years-old.

    Officers are now asking for the public’s help to track down those responsible.

    Police were alerted at 15:21hrs on Tuesday, 4 March to reports of a shooting at Paradise Road, SW4, and attended with emergency services colleagues.

    London’s Air Ambulance and London Ambulance Service treated Lathaniel at the scene but despite their best efforts, he died. His family are being supported by specialist officers.

    The investigation is being led by a homicide team.

    Detective Chief Inspector Sarah Lee said: “This is a horrendous crime, which has shocked the local community and beyond. Our thoughts are with Lathaniel’s family and friends at this devastating time.

    “Our investigation is continuing at pace, examining CCTV and collecting witness statements.

    “We have deployed officers to the area on reassurance patrol, and have officers on the ground engaging with the local schools.

    “We need the help of the public too – if you were in the local area please think remember back to yesterday afternoon and come forward with any information, no matter how small.

    “We are particularly keen to speak to anyone who has any mobile phone or dash cam footage from the area surrounding Paradise Road.”

    No arrests have been made at this stage, and detectives are keeping an open mind about the possible motive for the attack.

    If you were a witness or have any information, please call police on 101 with the reference 4116/4MAR.

    You can also contact the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 if you want to remain anonymous.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Deer Lake — Deer Lake RCMP investigates fatal snowmobile incident near Angus Lake

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Deer Lake RCMP is investigating a fatal snowmobile incident that occurred on March 4, 2025. A 55-year-old man is deceased.

    At approximately 1:45 p.m. on Tuesday, police received the report. A group of snowmobilers were traveling together in a remote area near Angus Lake. One of the riders ended up in a brook, trapped underneath his snowmobile. The unresponsive man was removed from the water by his friends who administered countless rounds of CPR. Efforts to revive the man were unsuccessful.

    Deer Lake Search and Rescue was engaged, along with the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC). The man’s body was removed from the area by JRCC and was transported to Western Memorial Regional Hospital in Corner Brook. The man was pronounced deceased during his transport to the hospital by a medical professional onboard the aircraft.

    The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is engaged and the investigation is continuing.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: St. John’s — RCMP NL arrests five drivers for recent impaired operation offences

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    RCMP NL recently arrested five drivers, three on March 1, 2025 and two others on March 2, 2025, in various areas of the province for impaired driving offences.

    At approximately 4:45 a.m. on March 1, Burin Peninsula RCMP conducted a traffic stop with a vehicle that was parked on the Creston Causeway in Marystown. The driver, a 28-year-old man, showed signs of alcohol impairment and was arrested for impaired operation. Back at the detachment, the man provided further breath samples that were nearly twice the legal limit.

    Later in that morning, at approximately 7:15 a.m., Happy Valley-Goose Bay RCMP received a report of a vehicle off the road in a residential area of the town. Police attended the scene and checked on the driver, a 44-year-old, man who was seated in the driver’s seat of the idling vehicle. The man showed signs of alcohol impairment and failed a roadside breath test. He was arrested for impaired operation and, back at the detachment, provided breath samples that were above the legal limit.

    Later that afternoon, at approximately 1:45 p.m., Grand Falls-Windsor RCMP were called to a residential disturbance in Buchans. While officers were responding, information received stated that one of the individuals involved in the disturbance departed the residence in a vehicle while impaired. Officers located the 45-year-old man a short time later at another residence. He showed signs of impairment and was arrested. At the detachment, the man provided breath samples that were more than twice the legal limit.

    At approximately 3:00 p.m. on March 2, Harbour Grace RCMP stopped a vehicle traveling in front of the detachment after the driver passed a vehicle on a solid line. The driver, a 74-year-old man, showed signs of alcohol impairment and had open alcohol in the vehicle. Police administered a roadside breath test and the driver failed to provide a breath sample. He was arrested for refusal of a breath demand.

    Later that same evening, at approximately 8:45 p.m., Gander RCMP received a report of a suspected impaired driver on the Trans-Canada Highway, west of Gander. The vehicle was reportedly stopped on the highway without any headlights or tail lights activated. Police located the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop. The driver, a 65-year-old man, showed signs of impairment consistent with alcohol and drugs. He was arrested, was provided a demand for a blood sample and was transported to James Paton Memorial Regional Health Centre in Gander. Officers await the results of the testing to determine if charges of impaired operation are appropriate.

    Each driver was released from custody with a future court date to face charges, a licence suspension and a vehicle impound and seizure, where appropriate.

    Impaired drivers place themselves and all others who share the roadway at increased risk of serious injury or death. RCMP NL is dedicated to keeping roadways safe and free from those who choose to drive while impaired. If you suspect a driver is operating a vehicle while impaired, please immediately contact your local police to make a report.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Two Venezuelan Gang Members Arrested, Charged with Bank Theft and Conspiracy

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

    BUFFALO, N.Y. –U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that David Jose Gomez Cegarra, 24, and Jesus Segundo Hernandez-Gil, 19, both of Venezuela, were arrested and charged by criminal complaint with bank theft and conspiracy to commit bank theft. The charges carry a maximum penalty of ten years in prison.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeffrey E. Intravatola and Douglas A.C. Penrose, who are handling the case, stated that the defendants are members of the Tren de Aragua Gang, which has been designated by the White House as a Global Terrorist Organization. They are accused of participating in an ATM Jackpotting scheme. ATM Jackpotting involves removing an ATM’s cover and infecting the ATMs hard drive with malware or removing the hard drive and replacing it with an infected hard drive, which allows the operator to assume control of the ATM and cause it to dispense currency.

    According to the complaint, Gomez-Cegarra, Hernandez-Gil, and other co-conspirators successfully completed an ATM Jackpotting scheme at a Radius Federal Credit Union in Kenmore, NY, on October 5, 2024. Video surveillance shows that at approximately 4:05 p.m., a vehicle, driven by Gomez-Cegarra,  approached the drive-up ATM, a co-conspirator exited the vehicle and opened the ATM utilizing a key, appeared to install something in the ATM, pressed buttons, and closed the ATM. The vehicle then left the area. Over the next several hours, the vehicle re-appeared multiple times at the ATM and conducted illegal withdrawals. Radius Federal Credit Union reported that $110,440.00 was stolen from the ATM during this ATM Jackpotting event.

    Gomez-Cegarra, Hernandez-Gil, and other co-conspirators are also believed to be responsible for ATM Jackpotting events St. Maly’s Federal Credit Union in Framingham, Massachusetts, on October 6, 2024, at First National Bank of Dryden in Dryden, NY, on October 17, 2024, and at two Community First Bank locations in Mount Vernon, Illinois, on November 11, 2024. During these events, approximately $187,000 was reported stolen.

    On November 11, 2024, the Mahomet, Illinois Police Department stopped Gomez-Cegarra and Hernandez-Gil in a vehicle together for suspicious activity. Both men presented Venezuelan identifications. They were arrested by the Mahomet Police Department, and ultimately charged by the Mount Vernon Police Department in relation to the incidents that occurred at the Community First Bank locations in Mount Vernon, IL.

    The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia, the Kenmore Police Department, under the direction of Chief Thomas Phillips, the Homer, NY, Police Department, under the direction of Chief Robert Pitman, the Framingham, MA, Police Department, under the direction of Chief Lester Baker, and the Mahomet, Illinois, Police Department.

    The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

    # # # # 

     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Chinese student convicted of drugging and raping 10 women

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    Met detectives appeal for victim-survivors to come forward after serial rapist convicted

    A serial rapist – who drugged and raped a number of women both in the UK and China – has been convicted, following one of the most complex investigations carried out by detectives in the Met.

    Zhenhao Zou, 28 (20.02.97), of Churchyard Row, Elephant and Castle, was today (Wednesday, 5 March) found guilty of a total of 28 offences, including 11 counts of rape against 10 different women.

    A jury found Zou guilty after a five-and-a-half-week trial at Inner London Crown Court. He will be sentenced at the same court on Thursday, 19 June.

    Following the conclusion of today’s court proceedings, detectives can now share they believe the scale of Zou’s offending may be much wider and are making a direct appeal for any victim-survivors who have not yet been identified to come forward and seek specialist support.

    While detectives have identified two victim-survivors, eight of the women who Zou was convicted of raping remain unidentified. Beyond this, detectives believe there may be more than 50 other women who may have been a victim and have not yet been identified by police.

    The investigation

    Zou is originally from Dongguan in the Guangdong Province of China and is believed to have lived in the UK since 2017.

    Before his arrest in January 2024, Zou was a student at University College London (UCL) since 2019 and prior to that studied at Queen’s University Belfast.

    Zou met women using online platforms and dating apps, inviting them to his home under the guise of studying or to have drinks. Officers have established that he invited women back to his address – one in central London and another in Elephant and Castle.

    Once inside he would offer them a drink which contained a substance – believed to be butanediol, which converts to GHB once in the human body.

    This would leave the victim-survivors drifting in and out of consciousness. While unconscious, he filmed himself as he raped and sexually assaulted them.

    Zou also kept items from victim-survivors, such as jewellery and clothing.

    After a woman came forward to report Zou, police searched his home and found the drugs butanediol and ketamine, as well as a number of hidden cameras. They also seized a number of laptops and mobile phones, which later uncovered the true scale of Zou’s offending.

    Officers downloaded the digital devices amounting to six and a half trillion bytes of data, which included around nine million WeChat messages.

    Met investigators spent months trawling through messages to understand Zou’s pattern of offending, painstakingly translating them into English from Simplified Chinese.

    They also watched hundreds of videos stored on his devices, which appear to show Zou filming himself raping and sexually assaulting women. It was after analysis of this graphic and disturbing material that it became apparent that he had not only committed offences in London, but also in his home country of China too.

    During the trial, officers were assisted by the Chinese Ministry of Public Security, who helped to facilitate one of the brave victim-survivors giving evidence against Zou.

    As part of the investigation, the Met has also been supported by the Crown Prosecution Service, National Crime Agency and Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

    The appeal

    To protect the integrity of ongoing legal proceedings after Zou was first charged with offences, detectives have not been able to publicly appeal for further potential victim-survivors until this time.

    The Metropolitan Police is now asking anyone who thinks they may have been a victim to come forward and speak with police.

    Specialist officers work closely with victim-survivors to seek justice and are available to offer support and signpost to external partners, so they can get help.

    Officers are keeping an open mind about the identities of unidentified victim-survivors, but are particularly keen to hear from women from the Chinese student community who may have met Zou and were living in and around London between 2019-2024. They also would like to speak to potential victims-survivors who may have met Zou while he was living in China.

    Women may have met Zou via online platforms, including student forums on the Chinese social media apps WeChat or Little Red Book, or may have spoken to him on dating apps, such as Bumble.

    Victim-survivors may have visited Zou at his accommodation in Woburn Place in central London or his address in Churchyard Row in Elephant and Castle in London. Others may have met Zou when he was living in China.

    Due to the nature of Zou’s offending, detectives believe that some women may not know they have been a victim-survivor and do not underestimate how distressing and difficult it may be to read or hear about his crimes following this verdict. They are reassuring potential victim-survivors that any reports will be fully investigated and dealt with the utmost sensitivity, care and compassion.

    Officers also understand that not every victim-survivor may wish to speak with the police to get support. Therefore, the charity Rape Crisis is also offering support for women to seek help and guidance from advisors who are independent to the police.

    As part of their appeal, detectives are also keen to speak to any witnesses who might have helpful information, in particular anyone who might have met Zou at parties or spoke to him on social media apps and has any concerns.

    Commander Kevin Southworth, lead for public protection at the Metropolitan Police, said: “Zhenhao Zou is a dangerous and prolific sexual predator, who manipulated and drugged women in order to prey on them in the most cowardly way.

    “I’d like to acknowledge the two women who bravely gave evidence against Zou in court – their courage and resilience has been unwavering.

    “We are determined to support all victim-survivors and are now asking women who believe they may have concerns about Zou to please come forward. I want to reassure anyone impacted that you are not alone and can seek specialist support and guidance, not only from the police, but also from independent charities and services.

    “I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the investigation team, who have shown professionalism, compassion and determination in their pursuit for justice.”

    The Met recognises the impact that this horrific case will have on Londoners, in particular Chinese students who may have lived in and around Southwark and Lambeth. Officers continue to liaise with partners to ensure anyone with concerns can access advice and specialist support from local police teams.

    How to contact the police and independent support agencies:

    Reports relating to Zhenhao Zou can be made online via the Major Incident Public Portal (MIPP): https://mipp.police.uk/operation/01MPS25X38-PO1. The MIPP is also available in Simplified Chinese (https://mipp.police.uk/operation/01MPS25X38-PO2 ), so it is as accessible as possible for potential victims and survivors.

    If you wish to speak to Met detectives or make a report relating to Zou, you can also contact police via email on survivors@met.police.uk

    You can also make a report to police by calling 101 from within the UK, quoting reference 2904/04FEB25.

    If you live in England or Wales and have been affected by this case and would like to seek support from specialist agencies, please contact the independent charity Rape Crisis via their 24/7 Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Line or call them on 0808 500 2222. Specially trained staff are there to listen, answer questions and offer emotional support.

    Background

    • Please consult ‘Document 1’ for a full breakdown of offences, including information relating to locations of offences
    • Please consult ‘Document 2’ for a timeline of offences

    Tackling Violence against Women and Girls

    • In 2023, the Met launched its new Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG) Action Plan, working with women and girls across London to shape a new approach to keep them safe.
    • The Met has transformed the way it investigates rape and serious sexual offences. Under Operation Soteria, the Met is doing more to put victim-survivors at the heart of its response to these crimes.
    • As part of its commitment to tackling violence against women and girls, caused largely at the hands of predatory men, officers are placing more focus on suspects and offering support to those impacted alongside specialist partners.
    • Since 2021, the Met has more than doubled its charge rate for rape.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Detectives name teenager shot in Stockwell with continued appeal for witnesses

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    Detectives investigating the murder of a boy shot in Stockwell have named him, while they continue appeals for witnesses and information.

    Lathaniel Burrell from Stockwell sadly died at the scene following yesterday’s shooting. He was 16-years-old.

    Officers are now asking for the public’s help to track down those responsible.

    Police were alerted at 15:21hrs on Tuesday, 4 March to reports of a shooting at Paradise Road, SW4, and attended with emergency services colleagues.

    London’s Air Ambulance and London Ambulance Service treated Lathaniel at the scene but despite their best efforts, he died. His family are being supported by specialist officers.

    The investigation is being led by a homicide team.

    Detective Chief Inspector Sarah Lee said: “This is a horrendous crime, which has shocked the local community and beyond. Our thoughts are with Lathaniel’s family and friends at this devastating time.

    “Our investigation is continuing at pace, examining CCTV and collecting witness statements.

    “We have deployed officers to the area on reassurance patrol, and have officers on the ground engaging with the local schools.

    “We need the help of the public too – if you were in the local area please think remember back to yesterday afternoon and come forward with any information, no matter how small.

    “We are particularly keen to speak to anyone who has any mobile phone or dash cam footage from the area surrounding Paradise Road.”

    No arrests have been made at this stage, and detectives are keeping an open mind about the possible motive for the attack.

    If you were a witness or have any information, please call police on 101 with the reference 4116/4MAR.

    You can also contact the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 if you want to remain anonymous.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Sniffer dogs help to seize illegal vapes and cigarettes

    Source: City of Coventry

    Sniffer dogs, have been helping Coventry Police and Council Trading Standards Officers to hunt down thousands of illegal vapes and cigarettes, during city raids.

    The Council and Police’s local neighbourhood teams have joined forces with four-legged working cocker spaniels Sky and Louis – both are trained to sniff out hidden compartments of tobacco, vapes and money.

    The tobacco detection dogs have been offering a helping paw as part of a crackdown at shops across Coventry.

    The dogs helped sniff out illicit goods at five city centre premises and even indicated that there was tobacco behind false walls, inside furniture and inside vehicles, which officers eventually accessed to find the goods inside.

    At one location a substantial amount of N2O, better known as Nox or Noz, was also seized and will now be investigated by the Police.

    Each incident where illicit goods were recovered will be now investigated.  

    Councillor Abdul Salam Khan, Cabinet member for Police and Deputy Leader at Coventry City Council, said:

    “Our Trading Standards team go above and beyond in their pursuit of illegal vapes and cigarettes, as is shown with this very successful operation.

    “Hiring Sky and Louis, who did an excellent job, was a fantastic way of protecting the health of our residents and keeping local children safe from underage sales.

    “With the ongoing help of partners, West Midlands Police we are very effective in dealing with this problem.

    “Anyone who knows of retailers selling illegal goods, or selling age restricted goods to children, can tell our Trading Standards team about it via our online reporting form found by searching ‘Coventry Trading Standards’.”

    Wednesday, 5th March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Policing Minister Celebrates the Role of Police Staff

    Source: United Kingdom National Police Chiefs Council

    “Regardless of the role, there is no force in the country that can do what it needs to do to keep the public safe without police staff.” 

    Those are the words of the Home Office Minister of State (Minister for Crime, Policing and Fire) the Rt Hon Dame Diana Johnson, with respect to the Police Staff Week of Celebration and Recognition.

    We’re extremely grateful that the Minister took the time to record this video, and thankful for her kind words about the important role that police staff play. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Greater protection for domestic abuse victims in Cleveland

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 3

    Press release

    Greater protection for domestic abuse victims in Cleveland

    Victims in Cleveland will be better protected from domestic abusers following the expansion of Domestic Abuse Protection Orders (DAPOs).

    • Clamp down on domestic abuse extended to Cleveland
    • Hundreds more victims to benefit from stronger protections from cowardly abusers
    • Government reiterates mission to halve violence against women and girls in a decade

    Victims and their friends, families or support workers in the area can apply for a DAPO at Teesside Combined Court Centre from today (5 March). Police can also apply on their behalf for protection against abusers.

    DAPOs can provide stronger protection for victims as they can impose exclusion zones through tagging and mandate attendance at behaviour change programmes.

    These orders cover all types of domestic abuse – including physical, controlling or coercive behaviour, economic abuse and stalking – and can be issued by all courts.

    Today’s news comes during National Domestic Abuse Awareness Week, and after the successful launch in Greater Manchester and London in November.

    Since then, there have been multiple convictions for breach of an order with some perpetrators already behind bars – with a maximum sentence of up to five years.

    Minister for Victims and Violence Against Women and Girls, Alex Davies-Jones, said:

    This is a positive step forward in better protecting victims of domestic abuse and in our mission to halve violence against women and girls.

    The evidence from Manchester and London is that DAPOs are working, and the rollout in Cleveland will provide more victims and families with the immediate protection they deserve from the vile abusers controlling their lives.

    Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls, Jess Phillips, said:

    We know that the current protective order regime isn’t working – any victim will tell you that. But seeing the results of these new orders so far has shown they can properly safeguard and protect victims.

    Making sure that this new system works safety, initially on a smaller scale, is paramount to delivering real change for victims as part of our mission to halve violence against women and girls in a decade.

    Rolling out these orders to Cleveland will help more victims and provide valuable insight to inform a wider expansion to other areas in the country. This is a welcome and important next step as we work to deliver what we promised.

    Already implemented in Greater Manchester and three London boroughs, the orders will be introduced across North Wales in April ahead of an expected national rollout.

    Jim Hope, Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS North East, said:

    No victim or family should live in fear of their abuser.

    I welcome the introduction of Domestic Abuse Protection Orders (DAPOs) in Cleveland to enable the Crown Prosecution Service, alongside the police and courts, to better safeguard victims and their families from this horrific offending.

    Our prosecutors can apply for an order on acquittal or conviction and, as other pilot areas have already done, stand ready to prosecute anyone who breaches an order.

    This National Domestic Abuse Awareness week, the Government urges all victims to seek the help they deserve.

    Today’s expansion is the next step in the Government’s unpreceded pledge to halve violence against women and girls in the next decade.

    Background information

    • Domestic Abuse Protection Orders were launched in November 2024 across Greater Manchester, three London boroughs and with the British Transport Police.
    • The DAPO is a joint policy shared between the Ministry of Justice and the Home Office and was legislated for in Domestic Abuse Act 2021.
    • Tagging can be imposed for up to 12 months at a time.

    Updates to this page

    Published 5 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital announces incident of patient care assistant suspected to have been indecently assaulted

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital announces incident of patient care assistant suspected to have been indecently assaulted
    ******************************************************************************************

    The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:     The spokesman for Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital (AHNH) made the following statement today (March 5) regarding an incident of a patient care assistant suspected to have been indecently assaulted:     A patient care assistant (PCA) was suspected to have been indecently assaulted while performing care procedures for a 73-year-old male patient in a medical ward yesterday afternoon (March 4). Upon receiving the report from the PCA, the hospital reported the incident to the Police immediately. A man was subsequently arrested by the Police in the ward.     AHNH is highly concerned about the incident. The hospital strongly condemns the suspected indecent acts against its staff, resolutely adopts a zero-tolerance attitude towards this incident, and will follow up seriously while fully co-operating with the Police’s investigation. The hospital has expressed sympathy and provided support to the PCA concerned.     The hospital has reported the incident to the Hospital Authority Head Office via the Advance Incident Reporting System.

    Ends/Wednesday, March 5, 2025Issued at HKT 16:10

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Fraudulent website and phishing instant messages related to The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Fraudulent website and phishing instant messages related to The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited
    ******************************************************************************************

    The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) wishes to alert members of the public to a press release issued by The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited relating to a fraudulent website and phishing instant messages, which have been reported to the HKMA. A hyperlink to the press release is available on the HKMA website.           The HKMA wishes to remind the public that banks will not send SMS or emails with embedded hyperlinks which direct them to the banks’ websites to carry out transactions. They will not ask customers for sensitive personal information, such as login passwords or one-time password, by phone, email or SMS (including via embedded hyperlinks).           Anyone who has provided his or her personal information, or who has conducted any financial transactions, through or in response to the website or instant messages concerned, should contact the bank using the contact information provided in the press release, and report the matter to the Police by contacting the Crime Wing Information Centre of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012.

    Ends/Wednesday, March 5, 2025Issued at HKT 17:25

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: BLOG | How we’re tackling fly-tipping, littering, and dog fouling

    Source: City of Liverpool

    Councillor Laura Robertson-Collins, Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities, Neighbourhoods and Streetscene, discusses the importance of a well-staffed Environmental Enforcement team when it comes to tackling fly-tipping and littering. 

    No-one likes to see rubbish lying around on our streets. Whether it’s fly-tipped furniture, littering at the side of the road, or dog fouling in the middle of a pavement, it doesn’t belong in our city. Liverpool is an incredible place to live and visit, and we should all be proud to call it home, but illegally dropping or dumping rubbish is disrespectful and selfish. 

    Recently, we announced that we were going to crack down on fly-tipping by appointing an external team to support with enforcement across the city. The truth is, we’ve already invested a lot into preventative measures and we’re starting to see a real difference.  

    In the 2024/25 financial year, the Council invested £475,000 to employ an internal Environmental Enforcement team, which is currently made up of six people. In 2025/26, we’re investing another £475,000 to be able to double the size of that team and have more officers working within the community to help prevent fly-tipping, littering, and dog fouling.  

    These officers have been out on the streets seven days a week since they joined the Council last summer. They patrol all areas of the city throughout the day, not just the city centre. It can be easy to assume that their main role is handing out fines to people who drop waste, but there’s so much more to what they do. They inspect businesses to make sure they manage their waste correctly and work alongside Merseyside Police to conduct waste carrier licence checks and trade waste inspections.  

    What’s more, they play a crucial role in educating our communities. By engaging with residents and businesses, they raise awareness about responsible waste disposal and prevent waste from being dumped in the first place. Did you know that if you hire a private company to take away your waste without checking they have the correct licence and it gets fly-tipped, you could be held responsible? These are the sorts of messages our team is passing on to residents.  

    By working closely together, our Environmental Enforcement team and LSSL ensure that all reported fly-tipping incidents are investigated and cleared in an average of 3.8 days. 

    The numbers speak for themselves. Since June last year, our officers have engaged with 617 residential properties and businesses about waste management, issuing almost 150 warnings where needed. They’ve also handed out 106 Fixed Penalty Notices and assisted with four prosecutions. Each of these investigations take a lot of time, but by doubling the size of the team, we know that we’ll have more time and more manpower to crack down on offenders.

    From 2023 to 2024, reports of fly-tipping dropped by 5.7 per cent, and requests to clean streets decreased by 25 per cent. Their efforts, and the work of LSSL, make a tangible difference in keeping Liverpool cleaner and safer. 

    Liverpool City Council’s commitment to cracking down on illegal fly-tipping, littering, and dog fouling is unwavering. The new Environmental Enforcement Team, appointed last year, has already made significant strides in investigating and addressing these issues. With the addition of six new internal enforcement officers, we’re poised to enhance our efforts even further. 

    And there’s more good news on the horizon. An external team is set to start early this summer, providing extra support to tackle fly-tipping blighting our streets. They’ll work closely with the existing taskforce, raising awareness about correct waste management and investigating environmental crimes. 

    While we do work closely with the police to utilise our expansive CCTV network across the city, we can’t be everywhere at once.  We ask anyone who spots illegal waste on our streets to report it to us so that we can investigate. And, if you have any information to help us with our investigation, please speak out. We know that the majority of people would like to keep their streets free of rubbish.

    With the Great British Spring Clean coming back at the end of next month, now is the perfect time to join in with community litter-picking events, or even create one of your own. For more information, or to tell us about a clean-up event you’re planning, reach out to our Keep Liverpool Tidy team. Together, we can achieve a litter-free, waste-free city that we can truly be proud of. 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Appeal for information on missing man in Mong Kok

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Appeal for information on missing man in Mong Kok
    *************************************************

    Police today (March 5) appealed to the public for information on a man who went missing in Mong Kok.     Fung King-tong, aged 90, went missing after he left his residence on Tong Mi Road yesterday (March 4) afternoon. His family then made a report to Police.                 He is about 1.55 metres tall, 45 kilograms in weight and of thin build. He has a long face with yellow complexion and short white hair. He was last seen wearing a blue jacket, black trousers, black shoes, carrying a beige recycle bag and a long umbrella.       Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing man or may have seen him is urged to contact the Regional Missing Persons Unit of Kowloon West on 3661 8036 or 9020 6542 or email to rmpu-kw@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.

    Ends/Wednesday, March 5, 2025Issued at HKT 18:04

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Illegal Alien Indicted for Conspiracy to Transport Other Aliens and Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin

    Source: United States Department of Justice (Human Trafficking)

    PHOENIX, Ariz. – Last week, a grand jury returned an indictment against Edgar Guadalupe Jimenez-Aguilar, an illegal alien living in Phoenix, for Conspiracy to Transport Illegal Aliens and Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin.

    After an investigation, agents from Homeland Security Investigations and United States Border Patrol identified Jimenez-Aguilar as a load driver who picked up aliens in desert areas in Pinal and Pima Counties and transported them to Phoenix. Jimenez-Aguilar also operated a stash house in Phoenix used to harbor the aliens and assumed a coordinator role by recruiting others to act as load drivers.

    From late 2024 through January 2025, agents interviewed other load drivers arrested for transporting aliens, who admitted Jimenez-Aguilar had recruited them. The agents also conducted surveillance on Jimenez-Aguilar and his stash house. On October 3, 2024, officers with the Tohono O’odham Police Department stopped a vehicle and determined four passengers, including two in the trunk of the vehicle, were aliens unlawfully present in the United States. 
     

    Officers learned that the driver had been recruited on social media, had participated in multiple prior smuggling ventures, and had been to Jimenez-Aguilar’s stash house to unload the aliens. On January 28, 2025, agents stopped a Jeep Grand Cherokee in Mesa and identified the driver as Jimenez-Aguilar via his Sonoran driver’s license. Inside the vehicle, agents located approximately 297 grams of black tar heroin.

    Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin carries a minimum penalty of five years and up to 40 years in prison, as well as a fine of up to $5,000,000. Conspiracy to Transport Illegal Aliens carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

    An indictment is simply a method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

    The United States Border Patrol, Alien Smuggling Unit – Tucson Sector and Homeland Security Investigations – Casa Grande, Pinal and Pima County Sheriff Departments, Tohono O’odham Police Department, and Arizona Department of Public Safety conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Vanessa Kubota, District of Arizona, Phoenix, is handling the prosecution.
     

    CASE NUMBER:           CR-25-00284-PHX-DJH
    RELEASE NUMBER:    2025-027_Jimenez-Aguilar

     

    # # #

    For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
    Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.

     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Met contact handler praised for safeguarding domestic abuse victim via Instagram

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    A Met Police contact handler has been praised for using Instagram to safeguard a victim of domestic abuse who made a report while she was abroad.

    Emma Tavill assigned herself to a case after she was contacted by a woman who had been assaulted by her partner while on holiday in Cyprus.

    The victim made the report on Monday, 19 February 2024 by sending photo and video evidence of her injuries to the Met’s Instagram page by direct message.

    Emma used the information she had to gather information about the suspect, including his return flight details.

    Once the suspect landed in the UK the following day, he was swiftly arrested at Gatwick Airport and taken into custody.

    Acting Chief Superintendent Neil Holyoak from the Metropolitan Police’s Contact Centre said: “Emma’s response is a great example of the type of work being done across the Met to keep people safe. Her actions meant we could go above and beyond to safeguard a vulnerable victim even when she wasn’t in the UK.

    “We know it’s not always possible for victims to call us and that’s why we receive crime reports and information through a range of digital channels, such as Instagram, as well as on our website.”

    The Met receives thousands of contacts every day and staff are responding more quickly to emergencies and Londoners get our help when they need it most.

    His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, Fire & Rescue Services also recently recognised the Met’s improvements to call handling.

    Last year dedicated staff and officers in MetCC responded to 4,660,891 contacts, of which 2,394,416 were 999 calls, 1,279,552 were 101 calls and 988,923 were digital contacts.

    The per cent of 999 calls answered within 10 seconds for 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2024 was 86.2 per cent compared to 77.6 per cent the previous calendar year with January 2024 reaching 90.9 per cent.”

    MetCC is currently recruiting. To find out more please go to: Overview | Communications officer (999 and 101) | Metropolitan Police

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Salford City Council secure conviction against private hire driver

    Source: City of Salford

    • Salford licensed private hire driver pleads guilty for the offence of illegally plying for hire relating to July 2023 offence
    • Ordered to pay £400 in fines, £1,200 in costs and a victim surcharge of £160
    • Salford City Council regards criminal offences committed by licensees whilst working as taxi and private hire drivers as extremely serious, particularly the offence of illegally plying for hire

    A Salford licensed private hire driver, Mr Arif Mohammad, has pleaded guilty at Manchester and Salford Magistrates’ Court following a complaint from a member of the public, which Salford City Council Licensing Service investigated.

    The complainant reported that Mr Mohammad had overcharged her for a private hire journey having attended a concert at Bolton Stadium. Following the event, the complainant had approached Mr Mohammad’s private hire vehicle and asked if he could take her and three other people to a hotel. Mr Mohammad agreed to the journey without there being a booking in place with a private hire operator. The law requires that all private hire journeys are booked through a private hire operator. Failure to do so can result in the driver’s motor insurance being invalid.  

    When interviewed in respect of the suspected offence, Mr Arif Mohammad admitted offering the journey without a booking through a private hire operator, describing it as a “big mistake”, stating he was “very sorry”.  

    Salford City Council is responsible for regulating taxi and private hire drivers licensed with the authority. Criminal offences committed by licensees whilst working as taxi and private hire drivers are regarded as extremely serious, particularly the offence of illegally plying for hire. The offence can lead to a licence being suspended or revoked or an application to renew the licence being refused. 

    Mr Arif Mohammad has been ordered to pay £400 in fines, £1,200 in costs and a victim surcharge of £160. The offence related to a breach of:

    • The Town and Police Clauses Act 1847

    With its commitment to building a fairer, greener, healthier and more inclusive city for all, Salford City Council Licensing Service will continue to work with licensees to support safe and high quality taxi and private hire services, taking enforcement action where necessary. 

    Councillor Barbara Bentham, Salford City Council’s Lead Member for Neighbourhoods, Environment and Community Safety said: “Taxi and private hire services are an important part of the transport network, and we thank all of our licensees that operate to a safe and high standard. Drivers have a duty to operate in accordance with the law and the conditions of their licence and the authority will not hesitate to take enforcement action where necessary. As a reminder, a private hire vehicle must always be booked through a licensed operator.”

    Share this

    Date published
    Wednesday 5 March 2025

    Press and media enquiries

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Protecting national security

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 3

    Oral statement to Parliament

    Protecting national security

    Statement by the Security Minister on new measures to tackle state threats from Iran.

    With your permission Madam Deputy Speaker, I will make a statement on the growing threat to the UK from Iran and the steps the government is taking to combat these threats.

    The threat from Iran sits in a wider context of the growing, diversifying and evolving threat that the UK faces from malign activity by a number of states.

    The threat from states has become increasingly interconnected in nature, blurring the lines between: domestic and international; online and offline; and states and their proxies.

    In the last year, the number of state threat investigations being run by MI5 has jumped by 48%.

    This statistic is a stark indication of the increased threat.

    Iranian threats

    Turning specifically to Iran, the regime has become increasingly emboldened, asserting itself more aggressively to advance their objectives and undermine ours.

    This is evidenced by the fact that direct action against UK targets has substantially increased over recent years.

    The Director General of MI5 recently stated that since the start of 2022 the UK has responded to 20 Iran-backed plots, presenting potentially lethal threats to British citizens and UK residents.

    The Iranian regime is targeting dissidents.

    And it is targeting media organisations and journalists reporting on the violent oppression of the regime.

    It is also no secret that there is a long-standing pattern of targeting Jewish and Israeli people internationally by the Iranian Intelligence Services.

    It is clear that these plots are a conscious strategy of the Iranian regime to stifle criticism through intimidation and fear.

    These threats are unacceptable. They must and will be defended against at every turn.

    Now it is a testament to our world-leading law enforcement and intelligence services that through their tireless commitment, so many plots have been thwarted.

    And I am sure the whole House will join me in paying tribute to the brave men and women of our law enforcement and intelligence agencies who work day in, day out to keep us safe.

    In seeking to tackle this threat, we must understand it.

    The Iranian Intelligence Services, which include the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the IRGC, and the Ministry of Intelligence and Security, or MOIS, direct this damaging activity.

    But often, rather than working directly on UK shores, they use criminal proxies to do their bidding. This helps to obfuscate their involvement, while they sit safely ensconced in Tehran.  

    We see that in intelligence, but we have also seen it publicly, with the conviction in 2023 of the Chechen born Austrian national, who was imprisoned for conducting surveillance on Iran International’s UK headquarters.

    These threats are not only physical in nature.

    The National Cyber Security Centre has also seen malicious cyber activity conducted by Iranian state-affiliated actors targeting a range of state sectors, including in the UK.

    Our response

    The government is absolutely committed to ensuring that our intelligence and law enforcement agencies have the tools they need to disrupt and degrade the threats that we face from Iran.

    So I can announce today that we will place the whole of the Iranian State – including Iran’s intelligence services, the IRGC and MOIS – on to the enhanced tier of the new Foreign Influence Registration Scheme.

    The Foreign Influence Registration Scheme, or FIRS, is a critical disruptive tool for the UK.

    This action will mean that those who are directed by Iran to conduct activities in the UK – such as criminal proxies – must register that activity, whatever it is, or face 5 years in prison.

    They will face a choice – expose their actions to the government, or face jail.

    The Home Office will lay regulations in Parliament as soon as possible, with a view to having the scheme up and running by the summer.

    On proscription, as members will know, we do not routinely comment on groups being considered for proscription, but I can assure the House that we do and will continue to keep the list of groups considered under constant review.

    However, what has become increasingly clear is the challenges inherent in applying our existing counter-terror legislation to state and state-linked threats to our national security.

    This challenge was first raised by the Home Secretary in Opposition. She warned of a lack of a comprehensive strategic approach for state threats to mirror that adopted on terrorism, and the specific difficulties in using a proscription mechanism, designed for groups like Al Qaeda, on state bodies.

    We are progressing work at pace to address this challenge.

    So I can announce today that Jonathan Hall KC has been asked to review the parts of our counter-terrorism framework which could be applied to modern day state threats, such as those from Iran.

    This includes giving specific consideration to the design of a proscription mechanism for state and state-linked bodies, providing more flexibility than is offered under the existing powers.

    As the Independent Reviewer of both State Threats Legislation and of Terrorism Legislation, Mr Hall is perfectly placed to undertake this review and we are grateful for his agreement to provide this advice.

    Let there be no doubt: we are utterly determined to stay ahead of those who threaten our country – and any step that could aid us in that critical endeavour will be considered. 

    But the UK is not alone in facing this threat. States across the western world are threatened by Iran.

    So we will work with our allies to better understand, expose and condemn Iranian actions – and bring Iranian-linked criminals to justice wherever in the world they may be. We regularly collaborate with our Five Eyes and European partners to protect our democracies from hostile Iranian attack.

    Here at home, we are going further too.

    The National Security Act 2023, which was supported on both sides of the House, has given the police new powers to target evolving activity.

    For example, the act criminalises assisting a foreign intelligence service, such as the IRGC or MOIS. The maximum penalty for these offences is 14 years in prison, the same maximum as for a proscription offence.

    And I can also announce that training and guidance on state threats activity is now being offered by Counter Terrorism Policing to all 45 territorial police forces across the UK.

    This will mean that when any frontline officer encounters a suspected state threats incident, they will know what to do and what to look for to ensure that our communities are kept safe. 

    Furthermore, we have recently issued guidance on the National Security Act and how it applies to the UK security profession, including private investigators.

    This ensures they are aware of the law and understand where they may be criminally liable if they are working for any foreign power, such as Iran.

    We will also continue to go after the criminal networks and enablers that Iran uses to carry out its work. The leader of the Zindashti organised crime group, a group frequently used by the Iranian regime, has already been sanctioned.

    We will explore further sanctions against other Iranian-linked criminals and the National Crime Agency will target those who assist the IRGC and others to launder their money.

    Alongside the recently launched Border Security Command, which strengthens Britain’s border security and disrupts criminal smuggling gangs, I have asked officials to consider new ways to enforce our robust immigration rules to specifically address threats from Iran.

    This work will focus on further protecting the UK from Iranian infiltration, including those who promote Iranian interference in the UK.

    I am clear that our response must be a UK-wide effort. So I welcome the Charity Commission’s statutory inquiries into both the Islamic Centre of England and the Al-Tawheed Charitable Trust.

    I have also asked officials to review where any Iranian interference is being conducted in the UK and FIRS will shine more light on any undisclosed relationships between the Iranian state and UK-based institutions and individuals.

    Finally, the National Protective Security Authority and Counter Terrorism Policing will continue to provide protective security advice and support to individuals and organisations threatened by the Iranian regime and its criminal proxies, including Persian language media organisations and their employees.

    And we will continue to maintain funding for protective security measures to synagogues, Jewish community centres and schools, ensuring we do all we can to keep our Jewish communities safe.

    Conclusion

    Madam Deputy Speaker, in a dangerous, volatile world, Britain must lead the way.

    That means proudly promoting our values and straining every sinew to keep our people safe.

    The measures I have set out today should reassure the House and the public about our unflinching commitment to these objectives.

    Under this government, security will be the foundation on which everything else is built.

    We will resist attacks on our way of life as vigorously as we counter threats to life – whatever their source.

    …we will work relentlessly to root out those intent on causing harm on our streets.

    …and we will do whatever it takes to protect our country and our democracy.

    I commend this statement to the House.

    Updates to this page

    Published 4 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Govt denies online rumour

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    Regarding a message circulating online that claims “the Government has announced that the Clerical Assistant grade will be fully integrated into the Assistant Clerical Officer grade by 2027”, the Civil Service Bureau has clarified that no such announcement has been made.

    The bureau said the matter has been reported to Police.

    It added that the civil service will remain committed to its posts and will make more flexible use of resources to serve the public proactively.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Nobody should be harassed accessing healthcare

    Source: Scottish Greens

    05 Mar 2025 Health

    Abortion rights are human rights.

    More in Health

    The anti-choice protests beginning this week will be a major test of Scotland’s safe access zones, says Scottish Green MSP Gillian Mackay.

    Speaking on the morning of expected protests near to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Glasgow, Ms Mackay has said that she will work with Police Scotland to ensure that laws are followed.

    Ms Mackay introduced the bill that secured 200 metre wide safe access zones, or buffer zones, around abortion service providers to stop the intimidating anti-choice protests that have taken place across Scotland.

    Ms Mackay said:

    “The days ahead will be a real test of my Safe Access Zones Act. I will work with Police Scotland and health providers to ensure that it is upheld and that people are able to access healthcare free from intimidation and harassment.

    “For far too long women have had to endure totally unacceptable abuse and obstruction outside hospitals. It should never have happened, and my Act to stop it received the overwhelming support of our parliament.

    “I urge anyone else who is planning to protest to look at the testimonies from people who have had to endure gauntlets of graphic banners and ask themselves if they really want to be responsible for causing even more pain and upset.”

    Ms Mackay added:

    “Abortion rights are human rights. They were long fought for and, especially when they are being undermined and eroded in the US and beyond, I will always stand up for the right to choose.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: First Responders – Papakura fire contained but smoke alert remains in force

    Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand

    Firefighters have contained a large fire burning at a metal recycling premises in Papakura, but the fire is expected to take several hours to fully extinguish.
    Fire and Emergency NZ has 15 fire trucks at the scene, including three aerial appliances, as well as a command unit and support vehicles.
    The fire was reported just after 4.30pm. Assistant Commander Chris Delfos says that the initial crews who responded are being relieved by fresh firefighters.
    An emergency mobile alert was issued at 5.55pm because of the widespread smoke, particularly to the east of Hunua Road. The smoke warning remains in place. People in areas where there is smoke are advised to stay inside with their doors and windows shut to avoid exposure to the smoke.
    Police and St John have also been at the scene, which is routine for a fourth alarm level fire.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: UPDATE: Charges – Aggravated robbery – Darwin CBD

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    The Northern Territory Police Force has charged three females in relation to an aggravated robbery yesterday.

    All three females aged 14, 15 and 19-years old have since been charged with aggravated robbery and deprive a person of personal liberty.

    All three offenders have been remanded to appear in court tomorrow.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Police investigating vegetation fire at Rocherlea

    Source: Tasmania Police

    Police investigating vegetation fire at Rocherlea

    Wednesday, 5 March 2025 – 4:02 pm.

    Tasmania Police conducted a targeted operation at Rocherlea this afternoon following a deliberately lit fire in the Reservoir Road Reserve overnight.
    Working with Tasmania Fire Service – who contained the vegetation fire on Tuesday evening – police from Northern CID patrolled the area, utilising drone technology.
    Detective Inspector Nathan Johnston said investigations into the fire were ongoing.
    “Deliberately lit fires not only put the community at risk, but the lives of our emergency service workers,” he said.
    “We will continue to work proactively with our partners at Tasmania Fire Service, and actively investigate any reports of suspicious fire activity – but we also need the community’s help.”
    “Suspicious activity or information can be reported directly to police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers anonymously on 1800 333 000.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Hamilton community effort leads to safer streets

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    Attributable to Inspector Andrea McBeth, Hamilton City Area Commander

    Council CCTV operators have assisted Hamilton Police in making an arrest after providing information of a person carrying a weapon in the CBD.

    In the early hours of Tuesday 4 March, Police were alerted by Council CCTV camera operators, after a man was seen holding a weapon before getting into a vehicle.

    As officers made their way to the scene, they were further advised of critical information from camera operators including descriptions and images of the man and the vehicle.

    Thanks to this information, Police located the man a short time later at an address in Nawton.

    The man was subsequently arrested, with an offensive weapon located alongside a metal pole.

    CCTV operators are an invaluable service to both us and the community. They detect a wide range of incidents from medical events and lost property, to identifying and notifying Police of suspicious and unlawful behaviour.

    The 38-year-old man is due to appear in Hamilton District Court on Friday 7 March, charged with possessing an offensive weapon and possessing methamphetamine.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Concern for welfare – Missing person – Tiwi Islands

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    The Northern Territory Police Force holds concerns for a 59-year-old man, Barry Kantilla who went missing near Tarntipi Bush Camp on Bathurst Island yesterday afternoon.

    Around 3pm, police received reports of the man who went missing nearby Tarntipi Bush Camp. He was travelling with a group who were collecting wood for carving at a local art centre in Wurrumiyanga and did not return.

    Police hold concerns due to his medical conditions.

    He is described as of Aboriginal appearance, slight build and was last seen wearing a grey shirt, blue shorts and tan coloured boots.

    The local members have continued searching overnight whilst resourcing from the Search and Rescue Section deployed overnight to coordinate further resources. This includes aerial and land based assets to locate the man.

    If anyone has any information on the whereabouts of the man police urge you to contact 131 444.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Arrest made, bikes seized after fleeing driver events, Porirua

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    Attributable to Detective Sergeant Vince Smylie

    Police have arrested a man in Cannons Creek this morning, after a search warrant was executed in relation to fleeing driver events in the Porirua area.

    The man, aged 36, has been charged with failing to stop, unlawfully gets onto a motorcycle and dangerous driving.

    The man is due to appear in the Porirua District Court on 11 March.

    Police also seized three vehicles from the address, a motorbike and a moped, both believed to be stolen, as well as a dirt bike.

    Police have seen an increase in fleeing driver incidents involving dirt bikes in recent months and remain committed to holding these people to account.

    Often, riders are seen without helmets on, which puts their safety at risk as well as the safety of other road users, due to the speeds these bikes are travelling.

    Police are committed to ensuring the community is safe, especially on our roads.

    We ask anybody who witnesses antisocial road behaviour to contact Police, on 111 if it is happening currently, or 105 if it is after the fact

    Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Taskforce Raven charge man with 26 offences

    Source: Tasmania Police

    Taskforce Raven charge man with 26 offences

    Wednesday, 5 March 2025 – 1:17 pm.

    A 40 year old Hadspen man has been charged with 26 offences following a targeted operation involving Taskforce Raven yesterday.
    Taskforce members, with the support of specialist police resources and Westbury Uniform officers, located and arrested the man at an address in Moltema on Tuesday 4 March.
    The man has since been charged with multiple offences including evade police (aggravated circumstances), reckless driving, burglary, stealing, breach of bail, possess counterfeit money, drive whilst disqualified, and minor drug offences.
    He was detained to appear in the Launceston Magistrates Court last night.
    Taskforce Raven will continue to target recidivist offenders across the Northern District.
    If you have information for the taskforce, you can contact 131 444 or Crime Stoppers anonymously on 1800 333 000 or online at crimestopperstas.com.au

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Hollywood Woman Found Guilty of Running Tech-Savvy Drug Delivery Business that Caused Three Near-Fatal Fentanyl Overdoses

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    LOS ANGELES – A Hollywood woman was found guilty by a jury today of running a tech-savvy drug delivery business that employed drivers – including a part-time actor – and resulted in three near-fatal fentanyl overdoses.       

    Mirela Todorova, 36, a.k.a. “Mimi,” was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances resulting in serious bodily injury, one count of distribution of fentanyl, three counts of distribution of fentanyl resulting in serious bodily injury, one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, one count of possession with intent to distribute MDMA (Ecstasy), and one count of making false statements to federal investigators.

    The jury also found that Todorova must forfeit $498,555 in drug proceeds to the government.

    “This defendant used her knowledge of technology to peddle the poison of fentanyl – despite knowing the pills she sold ran the risk of killing people,” said Acting United States Attorney Joseph McNally. “Investigating and prosecuting these cases saves lives. I commend our local and federal partners for stopping this dangerous criminal organization and bringing justice to the victims here.”

    “This case highlights the importance of looking at every overdose incident,” said Matthew Allen, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Los Angeles Field Division. “This case started with a single overdose and led to the identification of the dealer responsible for multiple overdoses. This drug distributor had knowledge of the harm she was creating and didn’t care.”

    According to evidence presented at a nine-day trial, Todorova from June 2020 to March 2021 orchestrated a technology-savvy drug trafficking operation in which she provided cellphones and narcotics – including counterfeit oxycodone pills that contained fentanyl – to drivers to facilitate the delivery of drugs to customers across Los Angeles County and elsewhere. Todorova – who is a citizen of the United States, Canada, and Bulgaria – also delivered drugs herself.

    Several times throughout the drug trafficking conspiracy, Todorova visited Mexico, where she continued to manage her drug operation while tending to her pet jaguar, “Princess.”

    To carry out the scheme, Todorova hired Mucktarr Kather Sei, 39, of Koreatown, as a driver and, later, gave him the keys to her Hollywood drug stash house, allowing him to run the drug ring’s operations while continuing to direct him from abroad.

    Despite warnings from customers that the oxycodone pills she was selling were laced with fentanyl and potentially fatal, Todorova continued to sell them. From November 2020 to January 2021, three customers of Todorova’s drug ring suffered near-fatal overdoses of fentanyl-laced oxycodone pills. Despite knowing their danger, Todorova continued to sell these fentanyl-laced pills until February 2021.

    In March 2021, law enforcement executed search warrants on Todorova’s person, car, and home, seizing numerous drug trafficking materials and narcotics, including lab-confirmed methamphetamine, cocaine, and MDMA, as a well as a single purported oxycodone pill laced with fentanyl.

    In December 2021, Todorova knowingly made series of false statements to federal law enforcement official when she said she thought the drugs seized from her apartment were vitamins, she never instructed anyone how to package or make drugs, and she only met Sei twice.

    United States District Judge André Birotte Jr. scheduled a September 12 sentencing hearing, at which time Todorova will face a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in federal prison and a statutory maximum sentence of life imprisonment. She has been in federal custody since April 2021.

    Sei and two other defendants charged in this case – Christopher Y. Moreno Núñez, 29, of Pacific Palisades, and Ashley Alicia Nicole Johnson, 34, of Los Angeles – each pleaded guilty last year to felony narcotics distribution charges and will be sentenced in the coming months. Sei has been in federal custody since February 2022.

    This case is the result of an investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Overdose Justice Task Force, which was created to address opioid-related deaths in the greater Los Angeles area, most of which are caused by the synthetic opioid fentanyl. Under the Overdose Justice program for the DEA’s Los Angeles Field Division, DEA agents collaborate with local law enforcement to analyze evidence to determine if there are circumstances that might lead to a federal criminal prosecution, and, if so, proactively target the drug trafficker.

    Assistant United States Attorney Patrick Castañeda of the International Narcotics, Money Laundering, and Racketeering Section, Assistant United States Attorneys Jason C. Pang and Suria M. Bahadue of the General Crimes Section, and Assistant United States Attorney James E. Dochterman of the Asset Forfeiture and Recovery Section are prosecuting this case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Charges laid in relation to Selwyn drug operation

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    Four people are up for sentencing before the courts, with multiple others facing a range of charges following a drug operation in Selwyn.

    The operation was a targeted drug operation that ran from June 2024 to December 2024.

    In that time, Rolleston Police executed multiple search warrants across the region in relation to serious drug offending.

    In total, 13 people were arrested for a variety of drug dealing and cultivation related offences.

    From those executed warrants, Police seized over $22,000 in cash and various quantities of drugs with a combined street value of over $38,000. Drugs seized included cannabis, methamphetamine, MDMA and cocaine.

    A total of 120 charges were laid throughout the duration of the operation.

    Police remain committed to holding these offenders to account and ensuring these harmful products are not getting through to the community.

    Two men aged 29 and 28 will be sentenced on 7 March.

    A 63-year-old man will be sentenced on 11 March, and a 33-year-old is due for sentencing on 11 April.

    All four men will appear in the Christchurch District Court.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –