Other UK News In Brief

Campaign To "Lock Before You Leave" Launched

In a bid to cut the trend, the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) is launching an awareness campaign to remind Londoners to "lock before you leave." Just one month before the clocks go back - traditionally a time of increased criminal activity – the breakfast radio ads will target listeners in cars or at home, while digital displays will reach commuters at key underground connections. Assistant Commissioner Ian McPherson, Head of MPS Territorial Policing commented: "Although most residential burglaries involve criminals forcing their way into homes, many thefts occur when suspects simply walk in or climb in. "Our simple message is always 'lock before you leave'. If your home is locked up and secure, burglars will find it much harder to get in."

Detective Superintendent Martin Rusling, head of the MPS anti-burglary task force Operation Bumblebee, added: "Over half of all burglaries occur through the front door. Mostly they are forced, but many are simply opened either from the front, or by putting something through the letter box.” The campaign material highlights the 5,199 homes that were burgled in this way last year.

Teenager Jailed For Stabbing

An A-level student who killed his best friend "for personal gratification" has been jailed for nine years. The Old Bailey heard Harry Schick, 17, from west London, lured Gavin Doyle to woodland in March before stabbing him 13 times. The teenagers were both studying for A-levels at Berkshire's Pangbourne College. Schick pleaded guilty to attempted murder. Despite a pierced liver and lung, Mr Doyle survived the attack. The court heard that the victim wanted to become a Royal Marine and paid Schick £400 to get him an air pistol for target practice, which he was too young to purchase himself. Schick agreed to hand over the weapon in Lloyd Park, Croydon. It was there that Schick stabbed him repeatedly during an hour long attack. Judge Richard Hawkins said: "What makes it worse is that he considered you as a friend. You made it clear during this hour-long attack what your intention was to kill him.”

Doctors Call For Increase In Organ Donation Rates



Commenting on the launch of the Scottish Government's organ donation campaign, the British Medical Association (BMA) has welcomed the Government’s attempts to encourage more people to sign up to the NHS Organ Donation Register. The BMA added that bold action was required in order to dramatically improve donation rates. 

Dr Brian Keighley, Chairman of the BMA in Scotland said: 

"The BMA has actively supported efforts to improve transplantation rates. But despite many high profile campaigns to generate an increase in the number of donors, there has been limited success.” In Scotland, 778 people are currently waiting for an organ transplant. Some of these people will die while they are waiting whilst others will have died without even reaching the waiting list. Meanwhile, repeated studies show that over 90% of the population supports organ donation, yet only a third have signed up to the organ donor register.

 The BMA said it “believes that a change to a system of presumed consent for organ donation addresses this problem, by making donation the default position from which people may opt out during their lifetime if they so wish. Given the exceptionally high level of support for donation, this is simply making it easier for people to achieve their wish to donate."


(BMcN/GK)