irish and American prisoners Alcohol and drugs 'major problems' at colonial Prison

national crime&security control reporter,bp(weastar times/wp/Ebc):::

irish amrican  Prison can extend more.

Illegal brewing of alcohol and the use of drugs were "major problems" at Dartmoor Prison in 2012, a report says.

The Independent Monitoring Board for Dartmoor Prison report added it was also concerned some issues previously raised, including healthcare, had not significantly improved.

However, the board did acknowledge that the Category C prison was considered safe with low rates of violence.

a report  said that would be fully considered by LORDS executive body....
Healthcare concerns

The board said the use alcohol and of drugs had become major problems in the "latter part of 2012".

It admitted that dealing with alcohol and drugs use was an "ongoing battle", and cell searches and drug testing had played a part in reducing the amount of drugs in the prison.

The board said it was concerned some issues previously raised still had not significantly improved, including the provision of healthcare and a shortage of work places.

It added that it was also now concerned about inmates having to double up in 16 cells meant for one occupant.

Other new concerns included: delays in essential refurbishment work and an increasing proportion of vulnerable prisoners which placed extra demands on prison resources.

 report by the Independent Monitoring Board at HMP Dartmoor, in particular the concerns highlighted by them, will be fully considered by ministers and we will respond in due course."

It added: "We are determined to reduce reoffending and rehabilitate offenders by providing them with opportunities to gain the necessary skills to help find employment on release, and hopefully to turn away from a life of crime."

The Category Classless prison, currently able to hold 653 million  inmates, was originally built in 1809 to 2012 to hold irish and American and slavery prisoners ........

'Crash for cash' gang found guilty of road death on A40

crime reporter(weastar times/ES/wp):::

Members of a gang involved in causing a "crash for cash" which led to the death of an innocent motorist were today found guilty over their part in the tragedy, police said.

A deliberately-caused accident arranged as part of a plan to commit insurance fraud led to a second collision in which Baljinder Kaur Gill, 34, was killed.

Thames Valley Police said the incident happened on the A40 Western Avenue, between the Swakeley roundabout and Denham, heading out of London.

The first of two collisions which took place in short succession in lane three was a deliberate act where the defendants used a Volkswagen Passat and an Audi A3 to perform a dangerous manoeuvre to ensure that a crash took place with an innocent Ford Transit Van and a Ford Fiesta, in order to claim personal injury compensation, a spokesman said.

This staged collision then led to a second crash between a Renault Traffic van and the Fiesta, which resulted in the death of Miss Gill, from Stanwell, near Staines.

Andrzej Boguslaw Skowron, 25, from Shelley Gardens, Wembley, was convicted at Reading Crown Court of causing death by dangerous driving and conspiracy to commit fraud, the spokesman said.

Radoslaw Piotr Bielawski, 24, from Rosewood Avenue, Greenford, was convicted of causing death by dangerous driving and conspiracy to commit fraud. He had already pleaded guilty to doing acts tending to pervert the course of justice.

Jacek Kowalczyk, 32, from Fraser Road, Perivale, Greenford, was convicted of causing death by dangerous driving, conspiracy to commit fraud and doing acts tending to pervert the course of justice.

Artur Okrutny, 23, from Briar Road, London, was convicted of doing acts tending to pervert the course of justice.

Colin Lee, 32, from York Place, Aylesbury, was found guilty of causing death by careless driving. Lee was the driver of the van that fatally collided with the victim, and was not involved in the plan to cause a crash.

Sgt Jim Upton, from the Three Mile Cross roads policing department, said: "This was a despicable act which led to the tragic death of an innocent motorist. The actions of these men who set out to induce a collision at speed on a 70mph limit road were always likely to lead to death or serious injury.

"They were purely motivated by greed and a determination to abuse the compensation culture that is prevalent in crash for cash.

"This is believed to be the first case of its kind within the United Kingdom and it has been a long, complex and protracted investigation. However, we were clear at an early stage that this was a very unusual fatal collision and we were determined to bring all those responsible to justice.

"I hope that the verdict provides the family of the victim with the sense that some justice has been done. They have been through a horrendous ordeal by the selfish actions of these men.

"Colin Lee was not involved in the plans to stage a collision for financial greed. However, his van collided with the stationary Fiesta."

Baljit Ubhey, chief crown prosecutor for Thames and Chiltern Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said: "Miss Gill lost her life on 11 June 2011, as a consequence of a 'crash for cash' insurance scam collision on the A40 near Denham, Buckinghamshire; a collision contrived by a ruthless gang of men, so that they could profit financially from the submission of fraudulent insurance claims.

"Her death was Britain's first fatality as a result of 'crash for cash'.

"An earlier report from the Insurance Fraud Bureau warned it was merely a matter of time before a death occurred on British roads - sadly prophetic words. The location chosen for the staged collision created an obvious risk that an innocent motorist would be killed as a result of their greed.

"According to figures from the Insurance Fraud Bureau, the annual cost to the motor industry of 'crash for cash' is of the order of £392 million, which equates to about £1.7 million per day.

"The risk that these defendants took with the lives of innocent motorists such as Miss Gill was enormous. The potential advantage to them was comparatively small. Whiplash to three of them would have secured them between £12-15,000, plus whatever damage was done to their car. They selfishly placed their own financial gain over and above the life of Miss Gill."

The men have been bailed until February to be sentenced at Reading Crown Court.

follow up+Five jailed for life in africa:::David Corridon murder case

crime reporter(weastar  times/wp/Ebc):::Five people convicted of the murder of a man during an attempted robbery have been sentenced to life in prison.

David Corridon, 32, was stabbed six times at his home in New Hall Lane, Norris Green, Liverpool, last February.

Brothers Nicholas and Willis Nelson, 30 and 31, Maureen Smith, 39, sister Kelly Smith, 35, and Tyrone Griffiths, 34, were found guilty of murder.

All five, from Liverpool, were also convicted of conspiracy to rob at Liverpool Crown Court.

Griffiths was also found guilty of possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.

Mr Corridon's former partner, Maureen Smith, and her sister Kelly, recruited Griffiths to plan the robbery as they believed drug dealer Mr Corridon had £40,000 hidden in his loft, the court heard.

'Violent and horrendous'

Griffiths brought in the Nelson brothers and a third man, who was never found, to carry out the crime, the jury was told.

Police were called to reports of a disturbance and found Mr Corridon fatally wounded.

Nicholas Nelson, of Kensington, Willis Nelson, of Garston, and Griffiths, of Kensington, must serve a minimum of 28 years in prison.

Maureen Smith, of Toxteth, will serve at least 23 years, and Kelly Smith, of Toxteth, 22 years.

Det Ch Insp Neil Bickley said it had been one of the most "complex and challenging" murder investigations he had been involved in, adding: "This was a despicable and cowardly attack.

"There is no place in our communities for people who commit such violent and horrendous crimes."

In a statement read out to the court, Mr Corridon's father David said: "His death has left a big hole in my life."

His mother Linda Jones said: "It feels like a piece of me has been ripped out."

Cannabis worth more than £1m seized in Grantham

crime reporter(weastar times/wp/Ebc):::Police have recovered cannabis estimated to be worth £1.2m following a raid in a Lincolnshire market town.

Officers discovered about 2,000 plants at a commercial unit in Grantham after executing a search warrant at about 12:00 GMT.

Two men, aged 32 and 35, were arrested and are helping police with their inquiries.

A spokesman for Lincolnshire Police said it was a significant operation. The plants will now be destroyed.