24/05/2012

Other News In Brief

Migration More Than Double Than Expected

Net migration to the UK remains more than double the government's target of fewer than 100,000 people a year, according to new figures.

In the 12 months to last September, net migration - the number arriving in the UK to stay for more than a year minus those leaving for good - was 252,000.

The figures reflect a drop of just 3,000 on the previous year.

The government has pledged to cut it to "tens of thousands" by 2015 and Labour said it was "failing badly".

Diamond Jubilee Tube Train Faulty

A Tube train that broke down in a tunnel stranding 733 passengers was a special Diamond Jubilee train, Transport for London (TfL) has said.

Passengers were led down down the track after the train stopped on the Jubilee line at 17:35 BST on Wednesday near St John's Wood, in north-west London.

TfL has apologised and said it will compensate those evacuated.

Third Of All Conviction Had 15 Or More Previous

New Ministry of Justice figures have shown that nearly a third of those convicted of serious offences last year had 15 or more prior convictions.

The latest sentencing statistics for England and Wales released on Thursday paint a picture of a small group of criminals being responsible for an increasingly large number of crimes.

The proportion of repeat offenders sentenced for 15 or more offences has been rising steadily over the past decade. In 2001, they formed just under 18% of those sentenced for indictable offences; by 2011 that had risen to more than 31%.

Related UK National News Stories
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07 August 2009
Great Train Robber Released
Ronnie Biggs has been formally released from prison today on compassionate grounds. Justice Secretary Jack Straw yesterday approved the Great Train Robber's release. Biggs - who turns 80 tomorrow - is severely ill with pneumonia was told he is unlikely to recover.
26 June 2008
Great Escape On The Cards For Infamous Train Robber
Infamous train robber, Ronnie Biggs, could be freed from jail in a year, his lawyer has said. Biggs, 78, was sentenced to 30 years for the 1963 robbery, but escaped Wandsworth prison by scaling a rope ladder, after 15 months.
18 July 2005
Engineering firm pleads guilty to Hatfield safety breach
Engineering firm Balfour Beattie has pleaded guilty to the charge that it breached safety standards before the Hatfield train disaster, in which four people died. The change of plea comes after the company, and five of its managers, were cleared of corporate manslaughter charges last week.
07 April 2005
London commuters set to get free paper
The way has been cleared for a new afternoon or evening newspaper to be distributed to London commuters, following the completion of an OFT investigation.
03 October 2012
Boy Found On Tube Tracks
An eight-year-old boy has been discovered trespassing on London Underground tracks. He was led to safety by a Tube cleaner, who spotted him on the tracks at Stanmore. The incident occurred last Saturday.