We added the case of 25 year-old Dean Reddy after detectives arrested his father on suspicion of murder.
Since then police have said they are no longer treating the death as suspicious and revealed that further tests established the cause of death was ‘sudden adult death syndrome’.
Here is the case page as it read before deletion:
Dean Reddy, 30, died after being found unconscious at a flat in Mill Hill, northwest London, on 23 February 2013.
Police were called to the address in Bittacy Hill following reports of a disturbance at around 11pm. Mr Reddy was pronounced dead at 11.51pm.
His 57 year-old father, who had suffered cuts to his face and neck, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of murder and later released on bail until April.
Following further investigation, detectives from the Homicide and Serious Crime Command decided the death was no longer suspicious. No further action was taken.
The release of the ‘UK Peace Index‘ (pdf link) has again highlighted the decline in violent crime (including murder) since 2003. “This is the fastest decline in violence of any country in Europe,” the report concludes.
It notes that the homicide rate (murder, manslaughter and infanticide) has halved over the last ten years to 1 per 100,000.
But the cause of this decrease in crime and murder over the past decade is still unclear (fall in UK crime baffles experts) – particularly as the fall has continued in the face of a major recession. The explanations have varied from the reduction in the use of lead in paint and petrol) to cultural changes.
Here are some of the suggested reasons (feel free to add more in the comments):
The decline in illegal drug use, particularly among the young. Drugs play a part both in petty crime (shoplifting etc to get money to feed the habit) and in violent crime (disputes between drug dealers / turf wars etc).
Policing – the targeting of specific types of homicide and violent crime, such as teenage knife crime (which reached a height in around 2007), gang violence (Operation Trident). In a recent statement, the Met highlighted its ‘series of high visibility ‘Big Wing’ operations engaging staff right across the MPS in joint action to target specific areas of crime, ranging from car crime to burglary.’ The ‘detection rate’ for homicide (number of cases where a suspect is charged) has remained high, meaning killers are less likely to get away with it. Improvements in technology (e.g. DNA, CCTV, mobile phones) also make it easier for police to identify suspects, resulting in more convictions and fewer unsolved cases.
Harsher sentencing – The 2003 Criminal Justice Act brought in set ‘tariffs’ or ‘minimum terms’ for life sentences, ranging from 15 years to whole life. For example, gun murders have a starting point of 30 years. In 2010, the minimum term for some knife murders rose from 15 years to 25 years.
The internet – are we more content with our lives due to social media? Perhaps young people are now too busy on their iPhones and game consoles to become involved in criminal behaviour. (On the other hand, mobile phone thefts/robberies have increased massively)
The latest homicide figures for London do show a slight increase for the financial year 2012/13 (106) compared to 2011/12 (103), with the lowest 12 month rolling figure being achieved in the summer of 2012 (96).
What happens next may give us a better indication of the factors behind the recent decrease in homicide and violent crime.
We were recently sent an email by a worried student asking about the likelihood of being murdered in London. This is perhaps not surprising given the prominence given to reports of teenagers being stabbed to death or shot.
As we’ve repeatedly demonstrated, the number of homicide cases (both murder and manslaughter) has been going down steadily from a peak in 2003. Last year there were less than 100, which is returning to the levels last seen in the 60s and 70s.
London may have more crime than any other area, but this is mainly because there are more people in London (approximately eight million). As you can see, if you rate different police forces by the number of murders per 100,000 people, London is only tenth highest, with the worst being West Yorkshire. Having said that, it is higher than the avarage for England and Wales.
And if you look at it by country, then ‘England in Wales’ is doing better than both Scotland and Northern Ireland, although it’s some way behind Austria and even Italy.
The country with the highest ‘murder rate’ is Lithuania – which is of interest given the increase in the number of people from that country now living in London and the rest of the UK. According to the Office of National Statistics, there were 74,000 Lithuanians in the UK in 2010 compared to 4,000 in 2001.
According to the 2011 census there were just under 40,000 Lithuanians in London, although some believe the true figure may be double that. In some areas like Newham Lithuanians make up 2.7 per cent of the population.
Two Lithuanians were allegedly murdered in London last month alone (January 2013) but this is rare – there were two Lithuanian murder victims in the whole of 2012, none in 2011, two in 2010 and three in 2009. Generally the victims seem to die at the hands of fellow Lithuanians, in temporary accommodation or squats, and involving the excessive consumption of alcohol. (see the cases of Rolandas Vosylius, Paulius Riepsa and Alvydas Miksys.)
It should also be pointed out that ‘stranger’ murders are actually quite rare. Most cases involve gang-related violence, domestic violence or fights at pubs or clubs. And while it’s always advisable not to walk alone in the streets at night, the likelihood of being murdered in London is very low indeed.
The number of homicides in London fell by nearly 20 per cent from last year – with 97 victims compared to 117 in 2011 (Note this was later increased to 99 – see update below).
This continuing decrease in the murder rate – despite budget cuts in the police force – brings it down to levels not seen since the 1960s.
Nearly four out of five victims were male (75 out of 97). Only eight of the 97 were teenagers, compared to 15 in 2011.
Six victims were killed with guns (down from 13 in 2011) and 43 with knives (down from 57 in 2011). Most of the remaining victims were killed with no weapon (i.e. manual strangulation, punches, kicks). One victim was stabbed with a broken glass and another died after being mauled by a dog.
Here’s a chart of the homicides for each month – the average was just over eight.
The borough with the most homicides in 2012 was Croydon with seven. Of the ‘improving boroughs’, Lambeth went from 11 in 2011 to four in 2012, while Tower Hamlets decreased from nine to three and Bexley from five to one. The City of Westminster’s total jumped up from one to five.
At present only 12 of the 97 cases (12.4 per cent) remain ‘unsolved’ in the sense that nobody has yet been charged (or arrested overseas on a warrant).
This pie chart gives the totals for each borough (including the City of London):
Asked by murdermap for a comment on the decrease in homicides, DCS Hamish Campbell, head of homicide investigations at Scotland Yard, said: “It is always encouraging to see a drop in the number of homicides and serious crime. We liaise with many agencies in the course of our work, and the co-operation we receive from the community is vital in driving down these types of offences.
“The Metropolitan Police will continue to be rigorous in the detection and investigation of murders in the capital.”
UPDATE: On January 23 DCI Campbell gave a fuller response to the Evening Standard giving the official Met Police figures of 99 homicides in 2012.
NOTE: We had originally counted 95 homicides: Since then we have added the case of Delores Smith (December 27) and Douglas Hutchinson (December 13, suspect originally charged with attempted murder).
NOTE UPDATE (Jan 2014): Two further homicides for 2012 were later added, making a total of 99.
These four murder cases in London in 2012 remain unsolved. Can you help? Contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Earl Warburton
Marvin Hogan
Pamela Wheeler
Teon Palmer
Earl ‘Duke’ Warburton, 58, died after being assaulted during a robbery of his flat in Loampit Hill, Lewisham. Police were called to the address at around 2.25am on 15 February 2012. Mr Warburton, who was a well known character who ran a brothel named ‘Madonnas’, had suffered multiple injuries and was pronounced dead 15 minutes later. A reward of £20,000 was offered for information leading to the prosecution of those responsible for the murder but nobody was charged. On the second anniversary of the killing, DI Rick Murphy said: “We are particularly keen to speak to anyone who was in the area at the time of the attack and who may have seen or heard anything suspicious. We are also keen to speak to anyone who may have worked for him in the weeks or months leading up to his attack. We appreciate that given the nature of the business Mr Warburton ran people may be concerned about coming forward. We would like to stress that any information will be treated in the strictest confidence.” Contact the incident room on 020 8721 4868.
Marvin Hogan, 28, was stabbed to death for his car keys in Leyton, east London, on Monday 4 June, 2012. He was attacked after getting out of his silver Vauxhall Astra in Winsor Road during a row with a group of men. Mr Hogan was found injured in Thornhill Gardens at around 9.40pm and died in hospital in the early hours of the following morning. A postmortem gave the cause of death as a stab wound to the chest. His keyring, which held his car keys and the entry key to his flat, was stolen during the attack. Seven men were arrested but nobody was charged. During a renewed appeal in January 2013, Mr Hogan’s mother Jean Alleyne said: “l would like to appeal to anyone that knows anything about my son’s death to come forward, you do not have to leave your name this can be done anonymously. I feel that these were local boys who committed this murder and took my son away at a very young age from the people that loved him. I also appeal to family members, aunts, uncles and friends to do the right thing in helping to bring this person to justice that took my son from me and his family so cruelly that bank holiday Monday while I was at work. This person is still out there walking around free probably not far from where my son was murdered I want him caught so can have my peace. I will not rest until my son’s killer has been found.” Anyone with information is asked to contact the incident room on 020 8721 4805.
Pamela Wheeler, a 76 year-old widow, was found dead at her home after a suspected burglary. Police were called to the house in New Acres Road, Thamesmead, south London, at around 6.25pm on Sunday 22 July, 2012. Her wrists and ankles had been tied together and a postmortem gave the cause of death as suffocation and head injury. The last confirmed sighting of Mrs Wheeler was at a local Morrison’s supermarket on 9 July. Neighbours noticed that she had not left out food for the cats on the morning of Friday 20 July. Renewing the police appeal in July 2013, DCI Graeme Gwyn said: “This investigation remains open and I am keen to speak with anyone who has yet to come forward to police with any information that may assist our enquiries. Pam was attacked in her own home, and I am certain that someone has information that will assist us in bringing the perpetrator of this horrific and violent death to justice.” There were no publicised arrests. Contact the incident room on 020 8721 4805.
Teon Palmer, 28, was stabbed in the chest in Lower Edmonton, north London, at around 11.10pm on Saturday 20 October 2012. Detectives believe his car had all four tyres slashed shortly before the attack in Montague Road at the junction with Goodwin Road. Mr Palmer was pronounced dead at the scene. Witnesses saw up to seven black males wearing hooded tops or jackets leaving the scene. Four of them are believed to have been on bicycles. Four men aged between 20 and 23 were arrested but nobody was charged. On the fourth anniversary of the murder, DI John Marriott said: “I strongly believe that there are people, who were not there that night, who know who stabbed Teon. I would urge them to contact us. It is also possible that allegiances have changed, and that someone, who may not have wished to speak with police at the time, may now be encouraged to do so. Teon’s family deserve to know what happened.” Contact the incident room on 0208 345 1570.
