Tom Symonds
@tomsymonds.bsky.social
BBC Political and News Correspondent. Particular interests in crime, justice, policing. TV, Radio and Web. [email protected]
New: The Metropolitan Police detective who has taken over the Al-Fayed investigation has written to women who've made allegations against the businessman saying she's truly sorry at their distress, caused by the fact he died before facing justice.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Met Police ‘truly sorry’ for distress to Mohamed Al Fayed victims
Detectives have written to alleged victims of the late Harrods boss and promised to answer questions about their ongoing investigation.
www.bbc.co.uk
July 9, 2025 at 5:51 PM
New: The Metropolitan Police detective who has taken over the Al-Fayed investigation has written to women who've made allegations against the businessman saying she's truly sorry at their distress, caused by the fact he died before facing justice.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
The Mike Lynch superyacht Bayesian had a vulnerability to high wind when its retractable keel was up, finds the Marine Accident Investigation Branch.
An interim report but includes interesting analysis. My sympathies to the bereaved.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
An interim report but includes interesting analysis. My sympathies to the bereaved.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Bayesian crew unaware wind speeds of over 73mph could topple yacht, report finds
Investigators say 80mph winds
www.bbc.co.uk
May 15, 2025 at 10:50 AM
The Mike Lynch superyacht Bayesian had a vulnerability to high wind when its retractable keel was up, finds the Marine Accident Investigation Branch.
An interim report but includes interesting analysis. My sympathies to the bereaved.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
An interim report but includes interesting analysis. My sympathies to the bereaved.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Prince Harry has talked exclusively to the BBC after losing the the latest round of his court battle for better police protection. Judges said previous decisions by the authorities were taken correctly.
See his response www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cp...
and on the BBC TV and radio Six O'Clock News
See his response www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cp...
and on the BBC TV and radio Six O'Clock News
Prince Harry loses legal challenge over security he receives when in UK - live updates
The Duke of Sussex was no longer given security arrangements provided to senior royals following his move to the US.
www.bbc.co.uk
May 2, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Prince Harry has talked exclusively to the BBC after losing the the latest round of his court battle for better police protection. Judges said previous decisions by the authorities were taken correctly.
See his response www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cp...
and on the BBC TV and radio Six O'Clock News
See his response www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cp...
and on the BBC TV and radio Six O'Clock News
Inevitable caveat... this is according to the airport's chief exec, but I haven't seen this contradicted, and clearly the 18 hour shutdown raises questions about LHR's procedural resilience in the event of a power outage.
Coverage of the Heathrow shutdown still not quite nailing the point that it wasn't a shortage of power, or lack of backup supply which led to the closure.
The issue was the time it took Heathrow to switch to the backup then 'reboot' and test airport systems.
www.ft.com/content/6707...
The issue was the time it took Heathrow to switch to the backup then 'reboot' and test airport systems.
www.ft.com/content/6707...
National Grid chief says Heathrow had ‘enough power’ despite fire shutdown
Airlines raise questions about scale of flight disruption after substation blaze
www.ft.com
March 23, 2025 at 10:03 PM
Inevitable caveat... this is according to the airport's chief exec, but I haven't seen this contradicted, and clearly the 18 hour shutdown raises questions about LHR's procedural resilience in the event of a power outage.
Coverage of the Heathrow shutdown still not quite nailing the point that it wasn't a shortage of power, or lack of backup supply which led to the closure.
The issue was the time it took Heathrow to switch to the backup then 'reboot' and test airport systems.
www.ft.com/content/6707...
The issue was the time it took Heathrow to switch to the backup then 'reboot' and test airport systems.
www.ft.com/content/6707...
National Grid chief says Heathrow had ‘enough power’ despite fire shutdown
Airlines raise questions about scale of flight disruption after substation blaze
www.ft.com
March 23, 2025 at 9:56 PM
Coverage of the Heathrow shutdown still not quite nailing the point that it wasn't a shortage of power, or lack of backup supply which led to the closure.
The issue was the time it took Heathrow to switch to the backup then 'reboot' and test airport systems.
www.ft.com/content/6707...
The issue was the time it took Heathrow to switch to the backup then 'reboot' and test airport systems.
www.ft.com/content/6707...
Cladding removal plan not ambitious enough, say MPs www.bbc.com/news/article...
Government's cladding plan not ambitious enough, say MPs
A committee casts doubt on whether the target of resolving the building safety crisis by 2029 will be met.
www.bbc.com
March 21, 2025 at 8:20 AM
Cladding removal plan not ambitious enough, say MPs www.bbc.com/news/article...
In other news, police looking to get a bit more leeway when it comes to what they can say about criminal investigations.
As a reporter, it's interesting to see how much is revealed by police in other countries -- without concern for how it might affect a future trial.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
As a reporter, it's interesting to see how much is revealed by police in other countries -- without concern for how it might affect a future trial.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Police want power to release more details on some cases to prevent misinformation
Police say they want to say more about cases when accusations of a cover-up could result in violence.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 28, 2025 at 9:05 PM
In other news, police looking to get a bit more leeway when it comes to what they can say about criminal investigations.
As a reporter, it's interesting to see how much is revealed by police in other countries -- without concern for how it might affect a future trial.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
As a reporter, it's interesting to see how much is revealed by police in other countries -- without concern for how it might affect a future trial.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
A musician and his centuries old violin. Stolen in a second from a London pub.
Brilliant violinist David Lopez Ibanez tells me about the nightmare moment he realised it had gone.
Dealers are now looking out for his Lorenzo Carcassi and say the thief won't make a penny.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Brilliant violinist David Lopez Ibanez tells me about the nightmare moment he realised it had gone.
Dealers are now looking out for his Lorenzo Carcassi and say the thief won't make a penny.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Musician seeks help to recover ancient violin stolen in pub
The instrument is worth a six-figure sum but also holds a lot of emotional value.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 21, 2025 at 8:56 PM
A musician and his centuries old violin. Stolen in a second from a London pub.
Brilliant violinist David Lopez Ibanez tells me about the nightmare moment he realised it had gone.
Dealers are now looking out for his Lorenzo Carcassi and say the thief won't make a penny.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Brilliant violinist David Lopez Ibanez tells me about the nightmare moment he realised it had gone.
Dealers are now looking out for his Lorenzo Carcassi and say the thief won't make a penny.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
At the scene of the now infamous Godstone sinkhole all day.
Still residents looking for accommodation and some frustration with council - but as always it appears to be the communication of the emergency response rather than the response itself that has caused the friction
Still residents looking for accommodation and some frustration with council - but as always it appears to be the communication of the emergency response rather than the response itself that has caused the friction
February 19, 2025 at 9:01 PM
At the scene of the now infamous Godstone sinkhole all day.
Still residents looking for accommodation and some frustration with council - but as always it appears to be the communication of the emergency response rather than the response itself that has caused the friction
Still residents looking for accommodation and some frustration with council - but as always it appears to be the communication of the emergency response rather than the response itself that has caused the friction
The government has rejected internal advice to widen the definition of extremism to include potentially violent environmentalists, the far left, conspiracy theorists and men prejudiced against women.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Yvette Cooper to reject call to widen extremism definition
The report was commissioned in the wake of the last summer's riots following the Southport attacks.
www.bbc.com
January 28, 2025 at 10:19 AM
The government has rejected internal advice to widen the definition of extremism to include potentially violent environmentalists, the far left, conspiracy theorists and men prejudiced against women.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Police Authorised Policy and Practice (APP) on communications are publicly available here:
www.college.police.uk/app/engageme...
The general principle is that there has to be a "policing purpose" for anything released. So lots of detail about a "wanted" suspect. But otherwise very little.
www.college.police.uk/app/engageme...
The general principle is that there has to be a "policing purpose" for anything released. So lots of detail about a "wanted" suspect. But otherwise very little.
January 24, 2025 at 10:41 AM
Police Authorised Policy and Practice (APP) on communications are publicly available here:
www.college.police.uk/app/engageme...
The general principle is that there has to be a "policing purpose" for anything released. So lots of detail about a "wanted" suspect. But otherwise very little.
www.college.police.uk/app/engageme...
The general principle is that there has to be a "policing purpose" for anything released. So lots of detail about a "wanted" suspect. But otherwise very little.
Southport and information released about it:
I keep reading that 'we were told more about attack X or Y'.
Having covered many, early information generally reported is from NON-police sources gathered by us crime reporters.
Police protocol is to say almost nothing about suspects before charge
I keep reading that 'we were told more about attack X or Y'.
Having covered many, early information generally reported is from NON-police sources gathered by us crime reporters.
Police protocol is to say almost nothing about suspects before charge
January 24, 2025 at 10:39 AM
Southport and information released about it:
I keep reading that 'we were told more about attack X or Y'.
Having covered many, early information generally reported is from NON-police sources gathered by us crime reporters.
Police protocol is to say almost nothing about suspects before charge
I keep reading that 'we were told more about attack X or Y'.
Having covered many, early information generally reported is from NON-police sources gathered by us crime reporters.
Police protocol is to say almost nothing about suspects before charge
What was happening behind the scenes as police and prosecutors discussed what to say about the Southport attacks.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Tensions over when to make Southport attack details public
Questions continue over why UK authorities did not publish key details about Axel Rudakubana earlier than they did.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 21, 2025 at 9:41 PM
What was happening behind the scenes as police and prosecutors discussed what to say about the Southport attacks.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
BBC Verify takes a wider look at Elon Musk's false posts on grooming gangs.
x.com/BBCRosAtkins...
x.com/BBCRosAtkins...
x.com
x.com
January 12, 2025 at 8:45 AM
BBC Verify takes a wider look at Elon Musk's false posts on grooming gangs.
x.com/BBCRosAtkins...
x.com/BBCRosAtkins...
How Elon Musk seized on baseless memo claim to fuel wave of misinformation
BBC Verify gets to the bottom of the claim the Home Office sent police a circular suggesting children could choose to be groomed.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
BBC Verify gets to the bottom of the claim the Home Office sent police a circular suggesting children could choose to be groomed.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
How Elon Musk seized on baseless memo claim to create wave of misinformation
The X owner shared false claims that a Home Office memo urged police not to intervene in child grooming cases.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 9, 2025 at 3:34 PM
How Elon Musk seized on baseless memo claim to fuel wave of misinformation
BBC Verify gets to the bottom of the claim the Home Office sent police a circular suggesting children could choose to be groomed.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
BBC Verify gets to the bottom of the claim the Home Office sent police a circular suggesting children could choose to be groomed.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
BBC Verify assesses the claims Sir Keir Starmer is complicit in failures to deal with grooming gangs
What is Starmer's record on prosecuting grooming gangs? www.bbc.com/news/article...
What is Starmer's record on prosecuting grooming gangs? www.bbc.com/news/article...
What is Keir Starmer's record on prosecuting grooming gangs?
The prime minister has come under attack from Elon Musk over his record as director of public prosecutions.
www.bbc.com
January 7, 2025 at 7:42 AM
BBC Verify assesses the claims Sir Keir Starmer is complicit in failures to deal with grooming gangs
What is Starmer's record on prosecuting grooming gangs? www.bbc.com/news/article...
What is Starmer's record on prosecuting grooming gangs? www.bbc.com/news/article...
