Ten Year Anniversary Appeal For Murdered 16 Year-Old

Ten years on from the murder of a teenager in north east London detectives are re-appealing for information and witnesses. Tangor Gokkusu, 16, was stabbed to death on 3 October 2000 in Finsbury Park after being confronted by a group of youths as he returned home. Around 5.30pm that day he got off a southbound route 141 bus at the junction of Green Lanes and Brownswood Rd. He was then confronted by a group of youths who officers believe followed him off the bus. Following a brief altercation, one of the group - believed to be of Turkish appearance, stabbed Tangor in the neck. The victim managed to stagger a short distance across the road where he collapsed on the pavement. He was taken to Homerton Hospital but died from his injuries four days later. A post-mortem examination gave cause of death as a stab wound to the neck. On the evening of the murder he was wearing a distinctive red and black Galatasaray football jacket and black trousers. No motive for the murder has ever been established. DCI Simon Moring, Homicide and Specialist Crime Command, said: "It is now ten years since that fateful day when Tangor lost his life so needlessly, and I believe there are still people in the local community who know who is responsible. I am hoping the passage of time will have seen changes in group affiliations and that someone will do the right thing and come forward to enable justice for Tangor's family."

Transport Secretary Suspends M4 Bus Lane

Motorists and hauliers are to benefit from an extra lane on a key stretch of the M4 near London, Transport Secretary Philip Hammond announced today. This will be achieved by suspending the M4 Bus Lane and opening it to all motorists travelling towards the capital - not just licensed black taxis, motorcycles and buses. The Transport Secretary ordered the suspension after latest analysis showed that journey times at peak periods would be reduced for car drivers and hauliers without significantly affecting vehicles currently allowed to use the lane. The suspension will begin before Christmas and remain in place until June 2012 when the lane becomes part of the Olympic Route Network for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. After this the intention is to remove it permanently. Philip Hammond said: "I want to keep traffic moving and improve journey time reliability through making the most of our existing roads. The M4 is a vital strategic route and therefore it is important that we do everything possible to reduce congestion on it. Once the Olympics are over my intention is to scrap the bus lane permanently as I believe excluding road users in this way is unfair and damaging to the economy." The Highways Agency will monitor the suspension over the next 18 months and traffic data gathered will be used to inform the Government's final decision about the future of the bus lane.

Appetite For Travel Continues

New research reveals that 84 per cent of people are still planning breaks away over the next 12 months. Holidays are still topping the list of things that people are saving for, but 20 per cent of us are less confident about travelling than we were a year ago. The research by the UK's largest independent travel insurance provider, Post Office Travel Insurance, suggests that because holidays are so important to the UK, we are becoming savvier about protecting ourselves. More than half of holidaymakers surveyed said that having adequate travel insurance or ATOL protection would make them feel more confident about going away. Travel companies going bust has become a worry for 40 per cent of holidaymakers, with a third concerned about airline and airport strikes and 30 per cent worrying about extreme events such as earthquakes or volcanic ash clouds. When it comes to the type of holidays people are planning to book, 39 per cent plan to book UK breaks, 33 per cent book city breaks, 31 per cent book all inclusive packages, with 29 per cent independently booking holidays. Rachel Croft, Head of Post Office Travel Insurance, said: "We have experienced unprecedented disruption this summer but it's positive to see that there is still an appetite for travel. While we cannot always control or predict events, we can take measures to protect ourselves. It is encouraging to see that consumers have become more aware of the risks associated with travelling and as a result, are more likely to take the appropriate precautions to minimise disruption." Advising on smart travel, she added: "Ensure companies you book with are ATOL protected where possible and for added protection use a credit card for booking. If booking flights and accommodation independently, purchase an insurance policy with end supplier financial failure cover. People should also be aware that even if they are holidaying in the UK, they should still take out insurance so they are covered for things like cancellation, delay and baggage."

(BMcN/GK)