Murder investigation launched over death of sisters in Fryent Country Park

From  the Metropolitan Police LINK

Detectives from the Specialist Crime Command are investigating the deaths of two women in Wembley.

Police were called to Fryent Country Park, Slough Lane at 13:08hrs on Sunday, 7 June to a report of two women found unresponsive.

Officers and London Ambulance Service attended and they were pronounced dead at the scene.

While formal identification awaits, police are confident that the deceased are sisters Nicole Smallman, 27, and Bibaa Henry, 46, who lived in Harrow and Brent respectively.

Next of kin have been informed. Their family are being supported by specially trained officers.

Post-mortem examinations will be scheduled in due course.

Detectives have begun an extensive investigation to fully establish what happened.

At this stage Nicole and Bibaa are thought to have been among a group of around 10 people who congregated in the park from around 19:00hrs on Friday, 5 June to celebrate Bibaa’s birthday.

Gradually people are believed to have left throughout the evening until only Nicole and Bibaa remained.

They were both reported as missing to police late on Saturday, 6 June when they did not return home, before they were discovered on Sunday.

Detectives from the Specialist Crime Command (Homicide) are investigating, with the assistance of officers from the North West Command Unit.

The deaths are being treated as suspicious and a murder investigation has begun.

An extensive crime scene remains in the park.

There have been no arrests.

Senior investigating officer DCI Simon Harding said:

“We are in the very early stages of the investigation and are working hard to find out what led to these two women losing their lives. Their families have been devastated by their loss and they need answers. They have asked that their privacy is respected at this time as they come to terms with this horrific incident.

“I need to hear from anyone who was in Fryent Country Park on the evening of Friday, 5 June, or early into Saturday, 6 June. The area the group were situated in is around a five minute walk from the Valley Drive entrance of the park, leading to a hill area.

“The area the group were in would be a well-known spot to sit and look over London. If you were in that area of the park from the evening of 5 June through to Sunday lunchtime, noticed the group, or saw anything else suspicions, please contact us immediately.

“You may have stumbled upon items of property, but not realised the significance of them. If you did, you may well have information that could assist us hugely. No matter how insignificant it may seem, please contact us via the incident room on 0208 721 4205, or via 101.”

North West Borough Commander Roy Smith, said:

 “This is an awful incident and our thoughts are with the victims and their family.

“We are working closely with the investigation team to ensure we get answers to what has happened. Local officers will be conducting reassurance patrols and will be happy to speak to any concerned residents.”

Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to call police on 101 or tweet @MetCC quoting CAD 3160/7Jun.

Alternatively, you can provide information 100% anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Cllr Muhammed Butt, Leader of Brent Council, said:

“This is such awful and tragic news and our hearts go out to the family and friends of the two women who were found.

“Police are investigating what happened, but for the family of the two women who are today coming to terms with their loss, it’s vitally important they know the truth.

“I urge anyone who has any information at all to assist the police with their investigation and come forward.”

Public meeting: making Brent a safer place to live - August 22nd 7-9pm

From Brent Council Neighbourhood Watch

We are writing to invite you to join Police and Council leaders for a community conversation about violent crime. It will be held at Roundwood Youth Centre in Harlesden on Thursday 22 August, 7-9pm.

Sadly, like many London boroughs, Brent has had its share of headlines for street violence in recent months.

In response to these events, we are hosting a Time to Talk event focused on making Brent safer. By attending, you will have the chance to talk about your concerns, put your questions to Police and Councillors, hear from young people in the borough, and work together to find solutions.

The event will also highlight the reality behind some of the headlines and tackle misconceptions. Despite a number of high profile incidents, police figures show knife crime incidents in Brent are far less frequent than they were 12 months ago. The number of crimes involving knives has dropped 31%.

Cllr Muhammed Butt, Leader of Brent Council, had this to say: 

We’re working hard, with the Police, to address violence on our streets and make Brent an even safer place to live. But just as it takes a village to raise a child, we need the whole community to work together to put a stop to this behaviour.

Headlines don’t always tell the full story, but they do focus minds. We want to harness the strong emotions people rightly feel about street violence and see if we can find solutions together.

So, we hope to see you at Roundwood Youth Centre in Harlesden on Thursday 22 August. The free event will run 7-9pm and light refreshments will be provided. To register your interest, please go to https://www.facebook.com/events/670868150045602/. Registration is not essential, but it will help us to make sure that everybody is catered for. 

If you need to reply regarding this message, click on this email address: owl@brent.gov.uk

Drug related crime community meeting tonight 7pm Brent Civic Centre

End drug-related crime - Public Meeting Drugs affect us and our community

7pm-9pm Tuesday 21 May 2019 Brent Civic Centre Grand Hall Tea and coffee from 6.45pm

How can we stop the violence and exploitation caused by drugs? Have your say – make a difference:

Find out:

• whose lives are affected by drugs

 • how drugs fuel exploitation, crime and violence 

 • what the police are doing 

 • how mentors with first-hand experience can help 

What can we all do now and in the longer term?

How can parents help?

How can young people help? 

How can schools help?

How can policy and legislation help?

 Hear what the panel say. Ask them questions. Make suggestions.

 PANEL

•  Louis Smith, Police Superintendent, North West London
• Tom Sackville and Mary Payne, Brent substance misuse service
•  Danny Coyle, Headteacher of Newman Catholic College 
•  David MacKintosh, drugs policy adviser
•  Brent Youth Parliament member 
• St Giles Trust mentor for schools 
•  

 Organised by Brent Safer Neighbourhood Board

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Green MEP: Panama Papers show UK is at centre of global tax avoidance schemes

Molly Scott Cato MEP, Green Party speaker on economics and finance, has responded to the so called Panama Papers – around eleven million documents held by Panama-based law firm Mossack Fonseca, which reveal how the company has helped clients launder money, dodge sanctions and evade tax. Molly said:

What becomes clear from the revelations contained in the Panama Papers is that it is the UK that is at the centre of the global network of tax havens that facilitates tax avoidance and crime. More than half the companies listed in the documents are registered in British-administered tax havens or the UK itself. This is deeply embarrassing for us as a country and reveals as entirely hollow the Chancellor’s claim to be cracking down on tax avoidance.

If we are to restore our national pride we must see steps taken immediately to deal with the nefarious relationships between apparently respectable companies based in The City and their dubious associates in the Crown dependencies and overseas territories. We need to end the convenient anachronism of such jurisdictions: either they should become a part of the United Kingdom and subject to our laws or they should acquire independence. In addition we need to put an end to shell companies and ensure much greater transparency on beneficial ownership.

St Raphael's 'Edible Garden' needs your vote

Sufra NW London is supporting a bid for Aviva Community Funds for an 'Edible Garden' on St Raphael's Estate in Brent.

St. Raphael’s Estate is the most deprived neighbourhood in Brent, with a notorious reputation for gang-related crime and anti-social behaviour. Levels of unemployment are high, and with no permanent facilities or activities on the estate, ethnic tensions occasionally erupt in violence. Health inequalities on the estate exacerbate deprivation in the local community. 11% of residents suffer from diabetes whereas the borough average is 7% and 24% of children in Year 6 are classified as obese. Apart from a lack of physical exercise, local residents simply cannot afford a balanced and healthy diet. The cost of fruit and vegetables at the local supermarket makes fresh produce a luxury rather than an essential part of every meal.

After 3 years of campaigning, local residents on the estate have finally secured a lease on a derelict plot in the middle of the estate measuring over 400 square metres to setup a food growing project. The aim of the project is to promote healthy eating and physical exercise by encouraging local people to manage the site, grow their own fruit and vegetables at no cost, understand the provenance of food and familiarise themselves with eating fresh ingredients.

Over the last few months, the community has cleared much of the site of rubble, fly-tipping and other waste and we are now looking to develop a land-mark site that improves the appearance of the estate, gives local people the opportunity to take part in alternative physical exercise by growing their own produce and promotes conservation and recycling of food waste.

St. Raphael’s Edible Garden will strengthen this grassroots initiative by bringing together more residents to build raised beds and growing structures using recycled materials, learn to grow a variety of fruit and vegetables using both traditional and innovative techniques like hydrophonic and aquaphonic farming and benefit from seasonal produce throughout the year. Without any regular social or cultural activities on the estate, the new space will also allow residents to organise outdoor events celebrating national and cultural festivals.

Alongside a programme of food growing and social events, the Edible Garden will offer accredited learning opportunities; young people will learn practical skills in growing and gardening, families will take part in cookery classes to learn about nutrition and healthy eating and resident ambassadors will learn to promote environmental awareness and encourage local conservation on the estate. Through regular social activities, local volunteering and skills development opportunities, the project will improve health and well-being as part of a wider programme to contribute towards the economic prosperity of our neglected community.

We hope that you will support this project by helping us to fund equipment and materials to make our vision a reality.

To register with AVIVA and vote for this project go to LINK

Audley Harrison condemns Brent Council's decision to stop funding Stonebridge Adventure Playground

Boxer Audley Harrrison has just left this message on Instagram about the decision to cease finding Stonebridge Adventure Playground:

My comments on Stonebridge Adventure Playground. Worth a read 🔥 The people in power fail to understand that people in the rougher, tougher neighborhoods in England, lose their way as it's difficult to stay motivated when surrounded by crime, unemployment, & lack of opportunities to better oneself. 

Without hope, without options, many choose the easy Road & start following the crowd and start the bad boy business. A shining light In my community for over thirty years, Stonebridge Adventure Playground (SAP) lost its funding today.

 I'm scratching my head as this senseless decision, when SAP was the one place in the community that was a safe haven for the troubled youths. Makes no sense... Seriously, this will affect the community in such a negative way, these elected official don't even know. #FBF me as a youngster in SAP ... Wishing for brighter days in #NW10 🇬🇧😩👊

Stonebridge speaks Truth to Power over Adventure Playground closure

'THIS IS THE FOUNDATION OF OUR COMMUNITY'

Brent Council leader Muhammed Butt meets local people from the Stonebridge Estate who are fighting to keep their Adventure Playground open.

Calls to support demonstration at Israeli Embassy on Saturday

As the Israeli army mobilises close to the Gaza strip Brent and Harrow Palestine Solidarity Campaign and Brent Stop the War are urging supporters to join the demonstation outside the Israeli Embassy in London at 2pm on Saturday.

The Palestione Solidarity Campaign said

Palestinians are currently facing a horrific escalation of racism and violence as the Israeli State pursues a strategy of collective punishment following the abduction and murder of three Israeli teenagers (read PSC's statement>).   Today we learnt of the abduction and brutal death of a Palestinian teen – 17 year old Mohammed Abu Khdair in what has been described in the press as a ‘revenge’ attack by Israeli terrorists.   Mohammed’s body was found in Jerusalem after a day and evening of Israeli protests that turned into mobs streaming through the streets of the Old City and east Jerusalem chanting ‘Death to Arabs’. Palestinians were pulled from their cars and beaten.   Palestinians protesting against Mohammed’s death on Wednesday were met by rubber bullets and tear gas from Israeli police, with a Palestinian TV crew and protesters injured.   The Israeli leaders incited the mobs, including Netanyahu, by their calls for ‘vengeance’ against ‘human animals’, and Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon talked about “settling the score”.   Calls for justice for Mohammed’s murder and restraint from our government, are woefully inadequate, given the current situation. The British government must clearly condemn Israel's incitement to hatred and violence. They must take action to end Israel’s crimes, violence, occupation, racism and apartheid – and end its war on Palestinians.

Another Brent Executive post challenged ahead of Thursday's hustings

Margaret McLennan

A  further Brent Executive post is to be contested this week with Housing, currently led by Cllr Janice Long, joining the list which includes Children and Families, Customers and Citizens, Environment and Neighbourhoods and Crime and Public Safety. The Housing challenger, Cllr Margaret McLennan (Northwick Park) is not someone normally associated with the so-called 'Young Turks'.

The hustings will be held at Neasden Methodist Church, Neasden Lane (on the roundabout) at 8pm on Thursday and the vote  takes place on Saturday May 11th at the Annual General Meeting.

Although it is generally expected that Muhammed Butt's supporters will do well with allies of former leader Ann John in rather a rut at the moment, one Buttite  member of the current Executive was less confident, remarking that Labour councillors 'are a funny old lot' and hard to predict.

Meanwhile the selection process has begun for Labour's  councillor candidates for 2014 and I have heard that there are 150 expressions of interest for 63 posts, although that has  not been verified.

If it is the case, this is quite remarkable considering the gloomy outlook for local government with the Coalition slowly strangling it in terms of finance and political power.It will be hard to argue next time that 'I didn't come into politics to make cuts'.

Significantly one backbench councillor recently remarked that s/he was seriously thinking about whether they had been more politically effective as a local activist than as a councillor.