Other UK News In Brief

Appeal Launched Following Hammersmith Rape

Sapphire officers are appealing for witnesses following a rape in Hammersmith. Police were called around 1.40am on Tuesday to Goldhawk Road junction with Hammersmith Grove to reports of a rape. The victim was walking past a disused carwash at the location when she was approached by the suspect. He pulled her into the carwash where she was raped. He ran off after the attack along Goldhawk Road towards Shepherds Bush Road. The victim approached a passing pedestrian and police were called. The suspect is described as a white male, short stocky build, clean shaven with a round face. He was wearing a T-shirt and jeans. Detective Sergeant Jack Smith, of Sapphire, said: "The victim was understandably frightened by this incident and has been supported by specialist officers whilst enquiries have been taking place. I would ask witnesses or anyone with information to contact Sapphire at Fulham police station."

Overnight Success For UK Border Agency

UK Border Agency officers have made a number of important detections at the border. Last night. Officers at Heathrow seized 1kg of cocaine hidden in luggage on a flight from South America. Officers have also apprehended a number of people seeking to smuggle drugs into the UK inside their bodies. The detection of Class A drugs is a priority for the agency, in line with the government's Drugs Strategy. Investigations into the smuggling attempts are ongoing. Overnight at Dunkirk, officers operating juxtaposed border controls apprehended three people for attempted people smuggling, including a Sri Lankan who was being smuggled into the UK via France. All those involved have been handed to the French border police. This morning the agency has also apprehended eight foreign nationals trying to enter the UK hidden in four lorries travelling through Calais. Every year, UK Border Agency staff in France and Belgium stop thousands of attempts to enter Britain illegally. UK Border Agency Border Operations Director Tom Dowdall said: “Last night's activity is typical of the action we take to every day to protect the UK. Smuggling, be it of drugs or people, is organised crime on a major scale. Securing the UK border against these threats is our top priority.”

Willetts Comments On Graduate Destinations Survey

Commenting on the results of the HESA Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education (DLHE) survey out today, Minister for Universities David Willetts has said: "The graduate jobs market is showing encouraging signs of improvement, with an increase in employment for the first time since the beginning of the recession. However, new graduates still need to work hard to maximise their chances of success. The higher education white paper, published this week, outlines proposals that will deliver a greater focus on graduate employability. Universities will need to publish high-quality, comparable information on employment rates and future salaries of graduates by university and by course, and the government will review how universities collaborate with business in order to make sure graduates are equipped to excel in the workforce."

(BMcN/GK)