22/08 Major Cocaine haul at the Port of Hull

Major Cocaine haul at the Port of Hull

A man has appeared before Hull magistrates after HM Revenue & Customs
(HMRC) Officers discovered an estimated £5.4 million of Class A drugs in
a mobile home at King George Docks Hull.

John Kinghorn, HMRC's Head of Detection said:

"This is a major seizure and sees us taking a significant step forward
in fighting the war on drugs. It sends a clear message that ports such
as Hull are not a soft touch. Our intelligence and detection skills are
continuously developing, and the only effective way to tackle 21st
century smuggling."

Customs Officers on duty at the ferry port intercepted a large motor
home after it arrived on a ferry from Rotterdam. During a search of the
vehicle a drug detector dog gave an indication of the presence of drugs.
Officers then searched the vehicle and found about 90 kilos of a
substance, which tested positive to cocaine.

The driver of the vehicle, Stephen Jeffrey Edwards (56), a UK national
living in Bolton Manchester, was arrested, interviewed and subsequently
charged with attempting to smuggle the cocaine into the UK.

Edwards was remanded in custody and will appear at Hull Magistrates
Court again on Wednesday, 23 August.

14/08 Man dies in hospital after being rescued from the sea

Man dies in hospital after being rescued from the sea


12th Aug the standby vessel 'Putford Provider' advised
Humber Coastguard that they could hear a yacht on VHF Channel 16 called
'Mollie Louise' calling for the Coastguard.

There was no distress or urgency in the call.

Humber Coastguard had not received any transmission from this yacht.

The 'Putford Provider' attempted to establish communications with the
'Mollie Louise'. Due to the severe weather and sea conditions, it was
decided to request the launch of the Humber and Skegness RNLI lifeboats,
and send them to the area. A rescue helicopter from RAF Leconfield was
also scrambled.

At five past four in the afternoon, the 'Putford Provider' then picked
up a mayday call believed to be from the 'Mollie Louise' in a position
approximately 30 miles east of spurn point and informed Humber
Coastguard. The 'Putford Provider' then proceeded to the last known position
of the yacht. When the 'Putford Provider' arrived on scene, it was
established that only one person was onboard and three other crew members
had been lost overboard.

The helicopter on arrival located the three persons in the water, they
were winched into the helicopter and flown to Hull Royal Infirmary. The
helicopter after refuelling, went back to pick up the remaining sailor
and also evacuated him to hospital. The yacht was towed back to Grimsby
by the Humber Lifeboat.

Sadly, one of the persons recovered from the water is now deceased. The
other three remain in hospital.

The weather at the time was North Westerly, gale force 8, with a five
metre swell and visibility up to four miles.

08/08 Police praise Highways Agency traffic officer who averted accident

Police praise Highways Agency traffic officer who averted accident

West Yorkshire Police have praised the quick-thinking actions of a
Highways Agency Traffic Officer who prevented a pedestrian on the M62 on
Saturday night from suffering serious injury.

The young man from York was walking along the hard shoulder between J32
and J32a and was weaving into lane 1, causing drivers to swerve around
him.

Highways Agency Traffic Officers spotted him on CCTV in the Regional
Control Centre (RCC) in Wakefield just after 2:30 on Sunday morning after
a call from a Highways Agency roads contractor. The Highways Agency
immediately dispatched a patrol vehicle with traffic officers on board to
the scene and signs were set on the motorway to alert drivers. West
Yorkshire Police were also immediately informed and dispatched a patrol.

One quick-thinking HA Traffic Officer, David Nash, worked out which
orange roadside phone the man would pass next and gave him a call. The
man answered it and David kept him talking until West Yorkshire Police
got there, shortly followed by the HA Traffic Officers.

Motorway Unit Inspector Tim Dale from West Yorkshire Police said:

"This was very quick thinking by the operator who could well have
averted a very serious incident.

"The man concerned clearly had no idea of the potential danger he was
posing to himself or to passing motorists. Given the speed vehicles
are travelling on the motorway, unexpected pedestrians or obstructions in
the carriageway can have extremely damaging, if not tragic
consequences.

"The safety of motorists in West Yorkshire remains our priority and we
will continue to work with our partners at the Highways Agency to
prevent accidents occurring whenever possible."

Control Room Operations Manager, Maggie Carter, was full of praise for
David. She said: "David's actions potentially saved this man's life
and the lives of others on the motorway. Traffic Officers have to think
on their feet all the time and David's quick thinking is a good example
of this."

The man was taken off the motorway by West Yorkshire police at around
3am.