Plymouth daily briefing for November 25: Property under investigation | Plymouth demands an end to violence against women | Pensioner charged with bomb offences

0
34

1 – Property under investigation

Police are currently investigating a property in Southway and a police cordon has been set up around the property.

Devon and Cornwall Police officers are present at an address on Radcliffe Close, with residents reporting activity since 8am yesterday morning.

Photos taken in the area show police tape draped across hedges leading to one of the properties.

One woman said there was a forensic team searching throughout the day.

Devon and Cornwall Police has not given details of this incident and it is unknown what is being investigated.

Local residents say they have also not been informed of the nature of the investigation.

Read more about this here.

2 – Plymouth demands an end to violence against women

Plymouth is united in calling for an end to violence against women, as the city grieves with Bobbie-Anne McLeod’s family and friends.

Many have taken to social media platforms to make their voices heard after two men were arrested on suspicion of murder following the disappearance of the 18-year-old.

Police, who found a body believed to be that of the teenager near Bovisand, last night revealed they fear Bobbi-Anne was killed by a stranger. She had gone out to meet some friends.

The tragedy has been described as “devastating” and “heartbreaking” and has led to renewed calls for more action to be taken in the community and by authority figures to tackle male violence.

It’s less than nine months since the high-profile kidnapping, rape and murder of Sarah Everard by a serving police officer as she walked home in South London.

A group of Plymouth women are working with the Reclaim These Streets movement to organise a vigil at Smeaton’s Tower on Friday at 6pm.

Local politicians from both main parties are joining together in calls for an end to the fear many women are forced to live with.

Charlotte Holloway, Labour council candidate for the Drake ward, said there was “fresh anger” after the disappearance of Bobbi-Anne.

“Plymouth women can add getting a bus to the list of other things we can’t do without fear,” she said.

“We fear drink spiking and needle spiking, we can’t jog through parks at night… We can’t live our lives as men do.”

Speaking to PlymouthLive, she added: “It’s devastating, it’s heartbreaking and importantly there are lots of women in the city who are reeling from the news but also feeling worried and fearful for their safety.

“Bobbi-Anne was just 18 years old getting a bus at 6pm like so many other people do day in and day out and that anger is felt by women across this city.

“It isn’t an isolated moment; in Plymouth women are concerned about rising drink spiking and needle spikings. You’ve got misogynistic undertones of the tragedy in Keyham.

“Plymouth women are worried about what this means and we need to reflect on it as a city.

“I would encourage the leadership in our police and our local council, our political leaders to really think about what we are doing to ensure trust and confidence from women that it’s safe to go out and live their lives day to day.

“There needs to be a real focus on how we ensure this ongoing violence against women doesn’t continue. We need more action and more reassurance from our city leaders about what is being done.”

Her thoughts were echoed by Cllr Sally Haydon, Plymouth Labour’s police and crime spokesperson.

“This is first and foremost an extraordinary tragedy for Bobbi-Anne’s family, friends and loved ones and my thoughts are with all of them,” she said.

“A young woman with her whole future ahead of her should have been able to wait at a bus stop without losing her life. Women in Plymouth should be able to be out and about anywhere in our city without having to worry constantly about their safety and this terrible news just reminds us once again that this is not the case.

“Urgent action needs to be taken both at a national and local level to address the issues which mean we are seeing these terrible events happening at an alarming level across the country,” said Cllr Haydon, who is a St Budeaux councillor.

“For instance we know there are issues with a dwindling number of taxi drivers in the city which affects the choices women make about how to get home either from work or from enjoying a night out. We also get regular complaints about the lack of lighting in certain areas in the city.

“I am asking for an urgent meeting with the police, partners and senior officers of the council, we all need to be working together to make women feel safe and bring an end to violence against women and girl

Read the full story here.

3 – Pensioner charged with bomb offences

A pensioner has appeared in court charged with having homemade explosives and bomb-making equipment two years after a major police operation in Whitleigh.

Stefan Gojke, aged 66, also faced city magistrates accused of having ammunition and a stun gun.

He was arrested after police officers spent two weeks searching properties in Lewes Gardens and Brentford Avenue in Whitleigh.

They were joined by Royal Navy bomb disposal experts, paramedics and firefighters and several items were seized.

Gojke was arrested at the time and has since been charged with ten offences.

He also allegedly had indecent images of children and extreme animal pornography.

Gojke, of Mount Gould Road, appeared on bail to face Plymouth magistrates last week.

Magistrates heard that the counts were too serious for them to hear and so sent the defendant to face a Crown Court judge without any pleas being entered.

He faces five charges of possession or control of an explosive substance without lawful purpose.

Gojke is accused of having several improvised explosive devices between August 1 and September 23, 2019.

He also allegedly had pipes “intended to be used for causing an explosion” and a “quantity of black powder” on the latter date.

Gojke is said to have had several pyrotechnic fuses and some nitrocellulose propellant.

He is also charged with having ammunition, Winchester.22 rounds, and a Magnum .357 semi-jacketed bullet head cartridge without a firearms certificate on September 23.

Gojke is accused of having a stun gun on that day.

The defendant is accused of having seven indecent images of children in the least severe category.

He also allegedly had five extreme pornographic images portraying people having sex with animals.

Read more here.

Get the best stories about the things you love most curated by us and delivered to your inbox every day. Choose what you love here

More stories from Plymouth:

Plymouth estate agents has closed with online competition to blame

Devoted carer speaks about why she loves her career with Proud to Care


Credit: Source link

#

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here