Other UK News In Brief

Teen Guilty Of Manslaughter

A 19-year-old man has been found guilty of manslaughter and possession of a firearm at the Old Bailey. Mohammed Ali of Romford Road, east London, was convicted of killing 21-year-old Mahamoud Jama in Newham in January 2010. A second man, Maurece Lewis, 19, of Haslemere Road, Ilford, was found guilty of assisting an offender. Police were called around 1.10am on Wednesday 6 January to reports of shots fired in the vicinity of Whyteville House, Studley Road, east London. Mahamoud Jama, 21, was found on the first floor landing, suffering a gunshot wound to the abdomen. He was taken to The Royal London Hospital where he later died. Detectives believe that an altercation took place between two groups on a former garage forecourt in Studley Road at its junction with Upton Lane and continued into Whyteville House where the victim was shot. Both men will be sentenced on a date yet to be set.

Bus Driver Assaulted In Southwark

Officers from the joint Metropolitan Police Service and Transport for London Safer Transport Command Workplace Violence Unit are appealing for information in connection with an assault in Southwark. The incident occurred on Sunday 5 December 2010 at about 5.20am, on board a route 453 bus, which was stationary at traffic lights on Old Kent Road south east London when a group of males entered at the rear doors of the bus by pressing the emergency exit button. The driver pulled over and demanded they get off the bus. The suspect approached the driver's cab and punched him a number of times before making off. The victim did not require medical attention. The suspect is a black man, of slim build, wearing dark clothing. Anyone with information is asked to contact DC Dan Kelly, leading the investigation for the Workplace Violence Unit.

National Archives Leads Sector

Body The UK Culture Minister Ed Vaizey has announced the organisation will take on the new responsibilities from this month following the closure of the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA).

The MLA currently acts as an advocate for the sector and helps archives improve their services and public access. More than 2,000 bodies, both public and private, hold regularly accessible archives in the UK including universities and local authorities. They face challenges such as the growing need to manage digital information and the growing public demand for online access to digitised content. Mr Vaizey said: "The UK's 2,000 archives are the gateway to our national heritage and the National Archives is perfectly placed to take on this leadership role, acting as an advocate for the sector and strengthening our network of archive provision. "I am very grateful to the MLA for the work they and The National Archives have done in supporting the archive sector and I am confident that it will continue this important stewardship role." The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is now working with The National Archives and the MLA on the transfer of responsibilities.

(BMcN/GK)