Other UK News In Brief

Police Appeal After Downham Murder

Police are appealing for information after an elderly woman was found dead in Bromley.

At approximately 8.15pm on Sunday, police attended an address in Oakridge Road in Downham, after concerns were expressed over the welfare of the occupant. Jean (known as Pat) Jobson, 86 who had lived at the address for a number of years was found suffering from head injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. Pat was last seen around 6pm on Friday 18 February and police believe the assault took place some time between then and 10am on Saturday 19 February. A post-mortem examination at Greenwich Mortuary gave the cause of death as blunt force trauma to the head. An incident room has opened under Detective Chief Inspector Cliff Lyons of the Homicide and Serious Crime Command (HSCC) DCI Cliff Lyons, said: "This was a horrendous attack on an elderly lady and we are appealing for anyone with any information to come forward." Any witnesses or anyone with information is asked to call the incident room. There have been no arrests at present.

BMA Comment On TUC Figures On NHS Job Cuts



The TUC says today that there are over 50,000 planned or potential NHS staff cuts across the UK. Commenting on the figures, Dr Hamish Meldrum, Chairman of Council at the British Medical Association (BMA) said: 

“We agree absolutely that slashing posts represents a false economy. Doctors and other NHS staff across the UK are working hard to deliver services more efficiently. Even cuts to “back-room” staff frequently have an impact on clinical workers, who have to pick up the administrative burden. Added to this is the fact that the NHS in England is facing the biggest ever reorganisation in its history, and is under additional pressure as a result of cuts to other public services, such as social care. Cutting staff or services is not the only, nor the best, way to save money in the NHS. There needs to be a much greater focus on reducing waste, such as that created by the bureaucracy of the internal market and the expensive folly of the Private Finance Initiative.”

Police Call For Witnesses To Selsdon Armed Robbery

Flying Squad detectives are appealing for information following an armed robbery at a building society on Monday 21 February. Around 9.20am three men entered a branch of the Yorkshire Building Society in Addington Road, Selsdon, one armed with a handgun, and committed a robbery. Two of the men approached the counter whilst the third remained at the front door. Staff were threatened with the handgun whilst the men stole thousands of pounds. The robbers, all dressed in balaclavas and hoods escaped on foot and were last seen running into an alleyway alongside 'The Village Club' which leads to Foxearth Road. Police are appealing for anyone with information which may assist the enquiry.

(BMcN/GK)