Emergency services are currently dealing with a large fire following an explosion at a fireworks factory earlier this evening. Police, Fire and Ambulance services were called by members of the public across the Stafford area reporting a large explosion and smoke from the large factory unit on Baswich Industrial Estate.

Baswich Lane remains completely closed and a large cordon surrounds the location to protect the scene and to allow the emergency services to tackle the fire.

Colleagues from West Midlands Ambulance Service have taken two men to the University Hospital of North Staffordshire. One, who is in his 60s has a back injury and was suffering from smoke inhalation. The other is a man in his 40s with serious burns.

Two women, one in her 40s, the other in her 50s were assessed for smoke inhalation and discharged at scene.

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue have brought the fire under control and are working to extinguish it as quickly as possible.

The building is still alight and has sustained significant damage.

Supt Jane Hewett from Staffordshire Police said “At this stage police and fire are working to establish the cause of the explosion, sadly we currently believe one person remains unaccounted for and police are working to support their family. We are currently arranging for a search of the scene tomorrow morning once the fire has been extinguished and the scene made safe.

“The cause of the explosion remains unclear at this point. Police are working to locate everyone who had been in the premises this afternoon and urge anyone with any information about those visiting SP Fireworks today to call Staffordshire Police on 101.”

Police are appealing for information after a car drove off with an officer hanging out of the window in Rochdale

Shortly after 9pm on Thursday 30 October 2014, police were called to Yorkshire Street, Rochdale following reports of a disturbance.

Officers attended and identified a car which had been seen driving around the area with its boot open.

When one of the officers approached the car window and leaned in to speak to the occupants, the driver of the car set off, forcing the officer to cling on to one of the car seats.

The car drove 150 yards before speeding up at which point the officer could hold on no more and fell from the car and lay injured in the road.

She is now being treated at hospital for serious bruising and shock.

The car is described as a dark coloured 5 door hatchback and the five occupants of the car are described as Asian men

Detective Inspector Charlotte Cadden said: “This is an appalling incident where the officer has been unnecessarily injured when she has only been trying to establish what has happened earlier in the night

“Thankfully she has not sustained any broken bones or any other serious injuries but this is still something that should not happen to somebody who was only trying to do their job.

“If anybody has any information then I would urge them to contact the police. I would also like to appeal for assistance from parents in knowing where their sons and daughters are planning to be over the weekend so that they can stay safe.

“We will continue to work closely with residents and the council to ensure that there is no repeat of the disturbances which lead to this disgraceful incident.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

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The head of a multi-million pound international drugs conspiracy who fled to Spain as his criminal empire collapsed has today been jailed.

John Clark enjoyed all the trappings of an international millionaire lifestyle from his multi-national class A drugs operation.

When police started to dismantle his criminal enterprise he fled across Europe in a Bentley Continental, eventually going to ground in Tenerife.

He was arrested in June 2013 after moving to Morocco and today, 31 October 2014, he was jailed for 25 years at Bolton Crown Court.

Clark, (aka Miller, born 21/5/1978),of Farm Hill Farm, Waterfoot, Lancashire, pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to money laundering and a number of drug offences including conspiracy to supply cocaine, heroin and amphetamine with other members of his group.

He was the acknowledged head of a criminal gang, the rest of which was sentenced as follows in October 2013:

Malcolm Tidyman (born 09/09/1979), of Tunstall Close, Bury, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply drugs and other drug related offences and was sentenced to 16 years imprisonment

David Green (born 28/08/1968), of Derby Court, Bury, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply drugs and various other drugs related offences and was sentenced to 13 years four months.

Brian Fletcher (born 01/12/1970), of Denton Street, Bury, was convicted of conspiracy to supply drugs following a trial and sentenced to 16 years.

Andrew Hodson (born 22/05/1972), of Marsh House Lane, Darwen pleaded guilty to a number of offences in relation to the supply of drugs and was sentenced to 13 years, six months.

Philippe Theodoor De-Gest (born 30/05/1983) of Molenstraat, Hoeselt, Belgium pleaded guilty to the importation of 25kilos of cocaine and was sentenced to nine years

Phillip Randles (born 16/09/1964), of Brandearth Hey, Liverpool pleaded guilty to possession of heroin with intent to supply and was sentenced to seven years.

Melanie Humphries (born 11/04/1972), of Orchid Drive, Bury, was convicted of a number of drug offences following a trial and sentenced to nine years.

James Hawthorn (born 22/9/1977) of West Whitby Street, Glasgow. pleaded guilty to possession of 50 kilos of amphetamine and was sentenced to four years and four months.

The gang was brought to justice following months of covert work by both the Serious and Organised Crime Group of Greater Manchester Police and the National Crime Agency (NCA).

It centred on an organised crime group, primarily based in the Bury area, but the head of which, Clark, ran primarily from his luxury properties in Spain and Europe.

The scale of the drugs empire stretched from Scotland, Merseyside, London and Lincolnshire and involved the vast importation of cocaine, heroin and amphetamines from the continent.

Clark’s first encounter with the closing law enforcement net was in May 2012 when his £1.2million farm in Waterfoot, Lancashire, was raided as part of an NCA probe into members of a Birmingham-based money laundering gang who had been transferring money overseas for Clark and other UK drug traffickers.

During a surveillance operation in October 2011 investigators watched Clark hand over a bag containing £113,860 to one of the money launderers at a service station near Junction 19 M6. The cash was later seized.

NCA investigators found £77,000 in two shoeboxes at Clark’s farm as well as documents showing he had an impressive property portfolio across Europe and had recently purchased a new Audi R8 Spyder worth £120,000.

They also found a coded ledger which detailed just nine-month’s worth of illegal transactions. In that brief period the gang had moved £11million worth of drugs, including a 40-day period in which there had been transactions totalling more than £1million.

He was charged with money laundering but fled the country before he could stand trial in April 2013. By that time his drugs enterprise was starting to unravel.

In a series of coordinated strikes, Clark’s henchmen were put under surveillance and several were arrested after taking possession of huge quantities of drugs.

Hawthorn was arrested in November 2012 driving a car containing 50kgs of amphetamine, while in December that year De-Geest and Hodson were both arrested after the Dutchman smuggled 25kilos of cocaine into the UK in his Scania HGV. They were stopped by officers after making an exchange in Flintshire, Wales.

As the police operation continued, more of Clark’s men were brought to justice. In January 2013, Fletcher was arrested and a house search in Ramsbottom yielded 20 kilos of heroin with a value of £2million and up to 30 kilos of amphetamine worth up to £300,000.

Later that month, a further 10kgs of heroin was intercepted on route to Liverpool when officers stopped a Volkswagen Bora being driven by Randels on the M62 near junction 6.

Tidyman and Green described as the lieutenants of the group were also arrested along with Humphreys who was later arrested following a raid on her house in Bury where drugs were being prepared.

Following these seizures Clark fled the country, driving his Bentley through the Eurotunnel from Folkestone. He then continued onto Tenerife.

NCA investigators tacked him down and he was arrested by the Moroccan authorities in June 2013. He later returned to the UK to face trial.

Detective Inspector Lee Griffin, of GMP’s Serious Organised Crime Group, said: “Clark sat at the head of a sophisticated, well-connected network of drugs dealers, the tentacles of which reached across the UK and into mainland Europe.

“Most of the gang enjoyed the trappings of wealth that most hard-working people can only imagine, but they would have known from the start that even the biggest empires can crumble.

“The scale of their operation makes for truly alarming reading – £11million worth of deals in just nine months, a number of properties across Europe and the types of cars associated with international playboys.

“However, all of this was built on selling harmful, illegal drugs on the streets of the UK. The corroding effects of class A drugs on families, communities and the wider society are well documented, and each and every one of these people knew it.

“I hope today’s result, which is the culmination of excellent joint working between ourselves and the NCA, sends out a significant message to anyone involved in supplying drugs. No matter how sophisticated you think you are, justice will always catch up with you in the end.”

Jim Cook, lead investigator for the National Crime Agency, said: “Drug traffickers need to launder their profits but doing it can be their Achilles heel. By getting between them and their money they are unable to fund their lifestyles or invest in further drug deals.

“After we seized his drug money Clark realised the law enforcement net was tightening. He went on the run but we were able to track him down and return him to the UK to face justice.

“Clark’s lavish lifestyle is over. Not only has he been deprived off his freedom, he now faces losing his criminal assets. We have restrained nine properties so far including his luxury multi-million pound family home. Our financial investigation is ongoing.”

Superintendent Karan Lee, based at Bury, said: “On behalf of the communities and partnerships in Bury, I applaud today’s judgement.

“We will continue to work together to eradicate organised crime groups and rid our town of those that wish to benefit from preying on decent and law abiding citizens.”

James Petevinou, 47, (07.01.66), a serving Detective Constable in Stoke Newington has been convicted of one count of harassment and acquitted of another following a hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ court on Thursday 30 October.

Petevinou was first arrested in February, following allegations of harassment on a woman during January and February. Petevinou was subsequently charged with one count of harassment on 10 June and convicted as above.

A second allegation of harrassment concerning an incident in 16 December 2013 was also investigated. Petevinou was aquitted of this charge at the hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ court yesterday, Thursday 30 October.

The officer remains suspended from duty.

He will be sentenced on Thursday 20 November.

A murder investigation has been launched in Hendon after a man was fatally stabbed.

Police in Barnet were called to Middlesex University, Greyhound Hill, NW4 at 0109hrs on Friday 31 October following reports of a fight.

Officers attended and found a 22-year-old man suffering from serious injuries following a stabbing.

The man was taken by London Ambulance Service to a West London Hospital in a critical condition. He died in hospital a short time later.

Next-of-kin have been informed. Formal identification awaits.

A post-mortem examination will be held in due course.

No arrests have been made.

An investigation is being led by officers from the Homicide and Major Crime Command (HMCC) under Detective Chief Inspector Nicola Wall.

DCI Wall said: “We are keen to hear from anyone who witnessed the incident on the university campus near the student union area shortly after 0100hrs today. There was a student event ongoing before this fight took place and many people would have been passing through the area before and after the fatal stabbing. Anyone with information is urged to contact the incident room on 0208-785-8244 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800-555-111.”

Merseyside Police can confirm an investigation is underway after a shot was fired at a house in Walton last night, Thursday, 30 October.

Officers were called to Stuart Road, at just after 9.45pm, by a man reporting that two other men had forced their way into his house armed with what’s believed to be some form of firearm.

They threatened him before leaving the property.

Immediately after, the sound of a shot being fired was heard and officers found damage to the front window of the house consistent with a firearm being discharged.

No-one was injured during the incident.

An extensive search of the area was immediately carried out by officers in a bid to find those responsible for the incident.

House-to-house inquiries are being carried out and high visibility patrols have been stepped up in the area to reassure the local community.

An investigation into the full circumstances surrounding the incident is continuing, although, at this early stage, detectives currently believe it was targeted.

Anyone with information about this incident is urged to call Matrix Serious Organised Crime officers on 0800 230 0600 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

Police investigating a Coventry hit-and-run that left a child in hospital are appealing for information as they continue to search for a silver car that is believed to have been involved.

Officers were called to Cheveral Avenue in Radford on Monday 20 October around 7.10pm following reports of an 11-year-old in collision with a car.

The car believed to be a silver two door hatchback hit the child and then drove away from the scene.

The boy was taken to hospital with multiple injuries. Fortunately he was released from hospital a few days later and continues to recover at home.

Officers are appealing for information as they continue to investigate the collision and trawl CCTV.

PS Laura Floyd, from the force’s traffic department, said: “We believe the vehicle involved is a small silver two door hatchback and following the collision the car would have significant front end damage.

“I am appealing to anyone who has seen a car matching this description to come forward. If you have been asked to repair a car with driver front end damage then I want to hear from you.

“If you have noticed a car in your street with new damage or if any friend or relative cannot explain new damage that has appeared on their car then please call us with information.

“We are determined to find the person responsible for driving away from the collision. I would also appeal to the person driving this car to do the right thing and come forward, we can then get their side of the story.

“Luckily the boy continues to recover from his injuries and specialist officers continue to liaise with the family.”

Anyone with information that could help the investigation is urged to call the Traffic department based at Chelmsley Wood on 101. Alternatively people can leave information anonymously by calling Crimestoppers the independent charity on 0800 555 111.

Police are appealing for information after a burglary at Bedlington Cricket Club.

Between 7pm Tuesday, October 21, and 7:20am on Wednesday, October 22, thieves got into Bedlington cricket ground in Hirst Head and tried to break into a garage at the cricket pavilion.

They were unable to get inside the garage and made off with a toolbox and CD player from a tractor parked in the compound.

Then sometime overnight between Wednesday, October 22, and Thursday, October 23, thieves tried again to break into the garage on the site but were unsuccessful.

Enquiries are ongoing into the two incidents and police are appealing for anyone with any information to contact them on 101 ext 69191 quoting reference number 447 23/10/14.

CCTV images of two men have been released following an attempted armed robbery in Peterborough.

Two men walked into Mace in Huntly Grove at 7.20pm on September 29 brandishing a knife and demanded the member of staff hand over money.

However the shopkeeper has chased the pair out of the store and they fled.

Detective Constable Fran Scott said: “The shopkeeper showed great bravery in chasing the offenders off.

“I would urge anyone who has any information or recognises the men pictured on CCTV to call police.”

Anyone with any information should call DC Scott on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.

A man has been convicted today for affray and criminal damage after an altercation occurred with a group of men in a court building before tracking them down and assaulting them in the street.

Daniel Wallcott, born 17/07/1979, of Herschel Street, was unanimously found guilty at Manchester Crown Court of affray and criminal damage on Wednesday 8th October 2014.

Today, Friday 31st October 2014, he was sentenced to a 12 month community order with supervision requirement.

At 10.30am on Friday, 26th July 2013, Wallcott and his brother attended Manchester and Salford Magistrates Court for a hearing.

On arrival, they got into a verbal argument with three men who had been at court to support a friend of theirs who had a hearing in another court room.

After the argument broke out, court security asked the three men to leave, which they did.

Two hours later the three men and two others were walking away from the court building down Dolefield Street.

Wallcott and his brother then followed the five men, finally catching up with them near to a car park on Bridge Street.

Wallcott then launched a vicious attack upon the men, with Wallcott removing his belt and wrapping it around his hand in order to cause more damage with the punches he threw at the victims as they tried to protect themselves.

As the men fled, Wallcott threw several glass bottles at them, hitting one of them as they ran and also causing damage to a nearby parked car.

A black Audi A3 then pulled up next to Wallcott, allowing him to make his escape.

Detective Constable Chris Lees said: “This was a violent disturbance that occurred in a busy city centre car park in the midst of many members of the public going about their daily business.

“Not only was it alarming and distressing for those members of the public, Wallcott caused damage to a nearby vehicle and attempted to viciously beat these men.

“It is clear that Wallcott was intent on causing serious injury and had the men not fled, it is likely that he would have done so.”

A shopworker was punched during a violent robbery in Sale.

Three masked thieves targeted The Co-operative on Washway Road in Sale, Trafford, at about 10.15pm on 28 October 2014.

The masked trio, who were clad in balaclavas, burst into the store and forced two employees who into the back office.

Both were threatened with violence and told they would be stabbed, although no weapons were actually seen, before one of the members of staff was punched twice.

After stealing a small quantity of cash, the three men then fled through the fire exit at the back of the shop, onto Stanley Mount, before escaping out of sight.

The first man is described as being white, 5ft 9in tall and the second was said to be slightly taller at 6ft tall and also white. The third man was about 5ft 6in tall and he too was white. All three were wearing balaclavas and dark clothing. The third man had white writing on his top.

Detective Constable Dan Hayes said: “The victims were on duty, just trying to earn a living, when they were confronted by a gang of masked thieves who subjected them to violent threats and a physical attack.

“Luckily, neither suffered serious injuries but they have suffered emotional distress and had no idea whether or not the thieves would make good on their threats to stab them.

“It is unthinkable for the vast majority of us to be attacked in our place of work and shopworkers deserve the exact same protection so we need to find these men and bring them to justice, sending a message that such violence on shopworkers will not go unpunished.

“I would appeal to anyone who either witnessed these men going in or out of the shop, or perhaps suspects who may be involved, to call us.”

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 0161 856 7863 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

Police hunting a man who sexually assaulted a woman in Levenshulme have made an arrest.

On 30 October 2014, the 18-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of sexual assault and he remains in police custody for questioning.

The sexual assault took place on The Street With No Name off Albert Road in Levenshulme at about 7.15pm on 5 October 2014.

A 49-year-old woman was walking through the railway tunnel when she was approached by the offender who tried to engage her in conversation. This man then followed her for a short period before he sexually assaulted her.

Earlier that day, police were also called to reports a woman had been followed off a bus near to the Asda in Stanley Grove by a man with a very similar description to that which later carried out the assault.

On this occasion, the woman was not physically assaulted but was extremely distressed as the man followed her up the street, took pictures of her and repeatedly harassed her for her name.

Exactly a week later, between 12pm and 12.30 pm on 12 October 2014, a third woman also reported she had been followed by a man on The Street With No Name. Again, the man pestered her for her name and address leaving the woman very distressed. The description was very similar to that of the man responsible for the previous two incidents.

Anyone with information about the investigation is asked to call police on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

Police have arrested three men after a police officer was dragged 150 yards by a moving car in Rochdale.

Shortly after 9pm on Thursday 30 October 2014, police were called to Yorkshire Street, Rochdale following reports of a disturbance.

Officers attended and identified a car which had been seen driving around the area with its boot open.

When one of the officers approached the car and leaned in through an open door to speak to the five occupants, the driver of the car set off, forcing the officer to cling on to one of the car seats.

The car drove 150 yards whilst the offenders repeatedly punched the officer in the face before speeding up at which point the she could not hold on anymore

She fell from the car and lay injured in the road.

Following an appeal for information, police in Rochdale recovered a car which is believed to have been involved in the incident.

A 19-year old man and two 24-year old men have been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and remain in custody for police questioning.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

A constable who helped to save a suicidal girl falling from a pedestrian footbridge into oncoming traffic has today, Friday, 31 October, received a special award.

New recruit PC Dewayne Hamilton was awarded a Commissioner’s Commendation following his first official parade as a Met constable at Peel Centre in Hendon.

He is one of 211 new recruits who have ‘Passed Out’ today in the presence of Deputy Commissioner Craig Mackey, senior officers across London and loved ones.

On the morning of Monday, 29 September, Dewayne, 36, was just six days in service in the borough of Hillingdon when his team responded to a call about a girl threatening to jump from a footbridge over the A40, near Swakeleys Roundabout.

Prior to the police attending, a passer-by had bravely managed to grab the girl’s arm through the safety rail of the footbridge to hold on to her until the emergency services arrived. Once at the scene, Dewayne vaulted over the 6ft railings and put his arm around the girl to stop her falling whilst his other arm was gripped to the railings.

The London Fire Brigade (LFB) and London Ambulance Service (LAS) attended and were able to get a harness around the girl to help secure her.

Dewayne and the girl remained suspended approximately 25ft above the busy six-lane A40 for several minutes whilst a specialist ‘Cherry Picker’ crane was driven to the scene.

Once the specialist crane arrived, and the girl was brought down to safety, Dewayne received a standing ovation from the emergency services, members of the public and people who had been standing beside their cars watching events unfold.

Subsequently the girl, who is in her mid-teens, was taken for treatment by LAS. She did not suffer any serious physical injury during the rescue. Both her and her family are receiving support.

PC Dewayne Hamilton, said: “I’m deeply honoured to have received this award this afternoon. Hearing the events being recited today was an emotional experience and it left me with a heavy heart. I am so grateful for all the support from everyone in this organisation I’m so proud to officially be now part of.”

Detective Chief Superintendent Nick Downing, Borough commander for Hillingdon, said: “This courageous act has touched us all and I am delighting to be welcoming Dewayne to Hillingdon. It was clear from the start that Dewayne displayed incredible humility for his actions and his outstanding qualities will now go into proudly serving our communities.”

A Manchester drug runner who accepted a parcel from South America he believed was full of cocaine concealed amongst dried fish has been jailed.

In fact, the parcel had been intercepted by Customs and Excise in South America and the drugs replaced with sugar before it was delivered to Promise Ezeh at an address in Wythenshawe.

Ezeh (born 10/12/1976), of Harley Street, Manchester, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs at an earlier hearing. Today, 31 October 2014, he was jailed for nine years at Minshull Street Crown Court.

On 13 February 2014, a parcel was posted from French Guiana in South America. The intended recipient was a ‘Michael Louise’ who lived on Warmsley Road in Wythenshawe.

However, Customs and Excise intercepted the parcel and discovered it was stuffed with dried fish, spices, and two plastic bottles. The bottles had been specially adapted and split into three parts. In the top and bottom parts there was liquid, but in the middle section was cocaine.

This was later forensically tested and revealed to be 645.55grams of cocaine with a street value of more than £100,000.

The parcel was then delivered to ‘Michael Louse’ at the Warmsley Road address, where it was signed for by a man purporting to be ‘Michael Louse’. It was, in fact, Promise Ezeh.

However, unbeknownst to him the cocaine had been substituted with sugar by the South American authorities.

The fake delivery was part of a joint operation with Greater Manchester Police, who then swooped on the address and Ezeh was promptly arrested. Officers also recovered a large quantity of snap bags and documentation showing transactions with World Freight and Western Union.

Detective Constable John Buckley said: “Ezeh was the willing recipient of a package of cocaine shipped from French Guiana to Manchester. He had no idea the package had been intercepted and the drugs replaced by sugar, so it is clear his intention was to take delivery of more than £100,000 worth of cocaine and help distribute these drugs right here in Manchester.

“What this case illustrates is that organised criminal networks and cartels in South America see Manchester as a lucrative destination for supplying their drugs, and that there are willing recipients based over here who have the contacts and knowhow to arrange the shipments of these drugs into our communities.

“However, what it also shows is that Greater Manchester Police works in partnership with enforcement agencies all over the world to stop the shipment of drugs into this country and that we will arrest anyone involved in the drug trafficking trade.

“People like Ezeh may be the fall guys who are used to take delivery of the drugs, but these sorts of foot soldiers play a vital role in the supply and distribution of lethal drugs, so every time someone like Ezeh is taken out of the game it is huge dent in the overall operation.

“We will continue to target anyone, regardless of their status, who is involved in the trafficking of drugs and we will continue to work with other international law enforcement agencies to target those right at the top of the tree.

“That is why it is important we ask for our communities to help us in that fight. If you come forward with information about a dealer in your area, you could be giving us vital clues that will help expose a much larger drug operation and in doing so, save people’s lives.”

Martin Thompson, aged 29 from Patterdale Avenue, Whitehaven, and his brother Kevin Thompson, aged 33 from Dean, Workington, have been sentenced to over 12 years today (31^st October 2014) at Carlisle Crown Court.

On the 21^st November 2013, Thompson assaulted two people in Captain Senny’s, Whitehaven. The first victim, aged 30 from Whitehaven, was standing near the bar when he was punched by Thompson in an unprovoked attack. He fell to the floor and sustained three fractures to his jaw.

Later that evening, in an unrelated incident, Thompson punched another man, aged 45 from Whitehaven. This was again an unprovoked attack, which left the man unconscious with cuts to his head and bruising to his face.

Thompson pleaded guilty to GBH (grievous bodily harm) and ABH (actual bodily harm) at an earlier court appearance.

Detective Constable Andy Yoxall said: “Both of these offences were completely uncalled for and left two people requiring hospital treatment. The victims showed courage in reporting the matter to the police and Thompson has been brought to justice for these vicious attacks.”

On the 27^th June 2014, a man, aged 47 from Whitehaven, was with friends in a car park on Queen Street, Whitehaven. Martin and Kevin Thompson approached the victim and  assaulted him in an unprovoked attack. They stole a pint of milk he was carrying and left him on the floor. He was taken to Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle with a broken cheek bone.

Martin Thompson was sentenced to seven years and nine months for his involvement in both offences. Kevin Thompson was sentenced to five years in relation to the incident on the 27^th June 2014.

Police have today raided the home of a suspected internet hacker who targeted Durham Constabulary’s website.

The suspect, aged 21 was taken from a property on Halstead Place, South Shields, South Tyneside, just after 7am .

He was arrested under the Computer Misuse Act and will be interviewed by detectives.

Durham Constabulary’s website was targeted on October 19th with an attack on the server of the website.

Today’s operation was carried out by the newly-formed Regional Cyber Crime Unit which is part of the North East Regional Special Operations Unit (NERSOU) covering Northumbria, Durham and Cleveland police forces.

A NERSOU spokeswoman said: “Today we have made an arrest of a young man whom we suspect is behind the Denial of Service attack on the Durham Constabulary website.

“These types of attacks are incredibly disruptive and as we move into a more cyber based world, they deny genuine users of websites access to information they may need very quickly.

“We take these types of attacks very seriously.

“We’ve been set up to tackle high level cyber-attacks and we’re here to protect businesses and members of the public.

“The public should be safe in the knowledge that our unit are a dedicated team of detectives here to robustly tackle the threat of cybercrime”

A Durham Police spokesman said that in the interests of security, the force could not give specific details of the offence, or the steps put in place to prevent a similar event happening again.

Hertfordshire Constabulary has released footage recorded from a police vehicle as it collided with a car that had been driven for around eight miles in the wrong direction on a motorway.

The release follows the sentencing of motorist Luke Goodall, 26, at St Albans Crown Court today (Friday October 31) after he earlier admitted dangerous driving and failing to provide a specimen for analysis.

Goodall, of Orchards Way, West End, Southampton, was sentenced to eight months in custody for dangerous driving and four months for failing to provide a specimen to be served concurrently. He was also disqualified from driving for three years and will have to take an extended driving test before being able to drive again.

The incident began at 1.40am on Thursday August 7 when police received a report of a silver Ford Fiesta joining the northbound carriageway of the A1(M) at Junction 7 (Stevenage) but driving south. The car, being driven by Goodall, was seen being driven erratically and at speed in the wrong direction. The Fiesta passed several vehicles travelling in the opposite direction and narrowly missed a number of them.

The first police officer from the Beds, Cambs and Herts Road Policing Unit to attend the scene was Sgt Karl McDermott who was driving north on the A1(M), towards the on-coming Fiesta. He was about to set up a rolling road block when he was confronted by the vehicle. He slowed down but the Fiesta collided with the police car, finally bringing it to a stop.

Sgt McDermott removed Goodall from the vehicle as quickly as possible as there was still traffic bearing down on them. His colleagues put a road block on the carriageway to reduce further risk of a collision and Goodall was later arrested on suspicion of drink driving and dangerous driving.

Sgt McDermott said: “Despite the time of night there was still fast-moving traffic on the motorway and the darkness meant drivers had minimal time to avoid the oncoming vehicle.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the many witnesses who came forward to provide evidence in this case. It is clear that a number of drivers were left in genuine fear for their lives after describing how Goodall only missed them by inches.

“Goodall is extremely lucky that he did not cause a serious collision that could have resulted in people getting killed or seriously injured. At the time he had no regard for how much danger he was in.”

In sentencing Goodall, Judge Baker commended Sgt McDermott for his “significant and brave actions in bringing him [Goodall] to a stop”.

Following sentencing, Hertfordshire Constabulary has released video footage today taken from Sgt McDermott’s vehicle during the incident.

RPU Inspector Phil Bloor said: “In some circumstances and always as a last resort when there is an immediate risk to life – as was the case in this incident – the only way to stop a dangerous driver is to put a physical barrier in their way. In this case I am certain that the actions of Sgt McDermott and other road policing officers on that night were all that stopped a serious collision from happening.

“The driver was removed from his car for his own safety. Given where the cars were stopped – the fast lane of a motorway – it was imperative that officers acted quickly to arrest him and remove the danger to the public, to themselves and to Goodall himself.

“I hope video footage brings home some of the dangers present on our roads and the lengths police officers will go to keep them safe for everybody.”

Police are appealing for witnesses after a burglary in West Moor.

At around 8.40pm on Thursday, October 30, police received a report of burglary on Great Lime Road.

Two men entered the property and made off with a safe.

The elderly occupant was not injured but was left shaken by the incident.

The men were described as being well-built and wearing masks.

Extra officers are on patrol in the area to carry out enquiries and provide reassurance to the community.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact police on 101 ext 69191, quoting reference 1187 30/10/14, or independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

An attempt was made to break into a property in Cockfield and police are appealing for witnesses.

The attempted burglary happened sometime between 10.30am and 11.30pm on Thursday 30 November at a property in Green Lane, Cockfield.

An attempt was made to prise open a door to a property but no entry was gained.

If you noticed any suspicious activity in the area you are asked to contact PC Tom Bilner at Sudbury Police on 101 quoting SU/14/2121 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.