Category: Cambridgeshire

The officer, who worked for Cambridgeshire Police, faced a misconduct hearingA former Cambridgeshire Police officer faced a misconduct hearing (stock image)(Image: Brian A Jackson / Getty Images)A Cambridgeshire Police officer sent an image of a child who was a victim of “very serious abuse and neglect” to a colleague, a misconduct hearing heard. Police Constable (PC) Amadae Dowd, who joined the Cambridgeshire Police force in 2016, faced a misconduct hearing accused of breaching the standards of professional behaviour.These alleged standard breaches relate to integrity, confidentiality and discreditable conduct. The officer was accused of wrongly disclosing confidential information during her role as a police officer.On February 10, 2021, the officer was assigned to ensure the safety of a 13-year-old child who had been the victim of “very serious abuse and neglect and was extremely vulnerable”, according to the panel.The child was in hospital and the officer was sent to sit with them. The officer was aware of the extent of the abuse, including that the child had been locked in an address for months with no food and had been beaten up and injured, according to the panel. The child’s face was badly burnt.PC Dowd allegedly sent an image of the child via WhatsApp to a colleague. It was a cropped picture of an evidential photograph.The officer was accused of sending a second image showing an adult female whose face had been badly burned in an acid attack. According to the allegations, the officer knew it was wrong to do so and told the recipient ‘Obvs delete.’The two photographs she sent to her sergeant via WhatsApp were obtained from the file relating to the two victims. The officer had used her personal phone to take the pictures from the file and then sent them. She claimed it was her way of more accurately describing the injuries than using words.In another incident, on April 14, 2021, PC Dowd was at hospital with a 17-year-old child. According to the hearing outcome, it was believed that the child had packed drugs in their anus.The child has been described as “vulnerable” and the officer was monitoring the child. PC Dowd was allegedly asked, ‘Have you killed him?’ The officer was accused of sending a picture of the child sitting on the edge of a bed and doubled up in a group chat with a message saying, ‘Maybe?!’The officer told the panel the youth was very difficult to deal with. She claimed that the messaging and sharing of the photograph was a form of ‘decompression’ and the officers involved used dark humour as a ‘pressure valve.’PC Dowds told the panel how her team were encouraged by her sergeant to utilise WhatsApp as a medium of communication for her team members for ‘work matters’ and this was apparently an accepted practice within the force at the time of the events.The panel found that the officer, and others involved in the conversation, showed a complete lack of respect towards the youth. Her counsel described the officer’s actions as “ill judged and thoughtless”, failing to appreciate the seriousness of her actions. The panel determined that, given her experience, such a failure was inexcusable.The panel determined that the allegations against PC Dowd did breach the standards of professional behaviour. The panel found that the breaches amounted to gross misconduct. In conclusion, PC Dowd received a final written warning for three years.

The family business announced its closure earlier this monthAll About Meat was formerly called Jones Butchers(Image: Google Street View)A Cambridgeshire town has been left without a butcher after its final shop closed due to “financial pressures”. Whittlesey has lost its butcher All About Meat, due to a “continued rise” in bills.The business, on Broad Street, was formerly called Jones Butchers between 1957 and 2025 before it was taken over in June last year. Two other butchers dating back to the early 1900s have been there, reports the BBC.The closure was confirmed by All About Meat on social media earlier this month. Announcing the closure, a spokesperson for the shop said: “Due to the continued rise in rent, utility bills and other operating costs, we have reached the difficult decision that we can no longer continue trading.”This is a decision we never wanted to make, but unfortunately the financial pressures have become too great.”The team thanked “every single customer” who has supported them over the last year, adding “your loyalty, kindness and custom have meant the world to us”.The statement continued: “We are deeply sorry to let our customers down and know this news will come as a disappointment to many. Please know that this decision has not been made lightly. Thank you for supporting a local family business and for being part of our journey. We will always be grateful for the support you have shown us.”Since the announcement on social media, it has received almost 50 comments in response. One person wrote: “I was gutted to find out you’d closed! Whittlesey without a butcher’s shop is unheard of.”Another person wrote: “You guys are Whittlesey family for meat, all other butchers never compared to your quality and service”.Meanwhile, others said they were “devastated” and highlighted that the business will be missed.

Tue, June 30, 2026 at 6:01 AM UTCA blue police accident sign on the road. Behind it there is some blue and white police tape and part of a police car is visible.Part of the A11 in Cambridgeshire has been closed after a vehicle crashed through the central reservation.The road is closed in both directions between the A1301 at Stump Cross and the A1307 at Babraham after the crash which happened at about 03:00 BST, National Highways said.Cambridgeshire Police and National Highways teams have been at the scene.Delays were building in the area and traffic has been diverted through local routes, the roads agency said.Do you have a story suggestion for Cambridgeshire? Contact us below.Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.More stories of interestRelated internet links

Jon Ismaili to serve a minimum of 18 and a half yearsAuthor: Charlotte BarberPublished 3 hours agoJon Ismaili, 34, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering Cambridge woman Catalina Birlea, with a minimum term of 18 and a half years factoring in additional charges.At Cambridge Crown Court, Ismaili was found guilty of murder and additionally charged with being concerned in supplying drugs. The sentences given were 17 years for murder and 36 months for drug-related charges, with half of the drugs sentence ordered to be served alongside the murder term. Ismaili had traveled to a house on Chesterton Road on 2nd October last year, where Catalina was staying. He entered the property in the morning, masking his face from CCTV cameras on departure. A friend later found Catalina unresponsive, prompting a call to emergency services. Despite paramedic intervention, she was declared dead at the scene. Facial recognition technology identified Ismaili as the man seen entering and leaving the premises, leading to his arrest following a police manhunt. Telephone records tracked Catalina’s phone connecting to Ismaili’s local area after the incident. A post-mortem confirmed her death was due to neck compression. Throughout police interviews, Ismaili maintained silence and pleaded not guilty. Detective Inspector Mark Dollard remarked on the investigation’s success and importance: “Only Ismaili knows what happened at the property that morning and why he murdered Catalina…” He emphasised the perils faced by those working in the sex industry, encouraging them to report violence without hesitation. The police assure complete support and prejudice-free investigations for anyone in the industry who experiences violence. Hear all the latest news from across the UK on the hour, every hour, on Greatest Hits Radio on DAB, smartspeaker, at greatesthitsradio.co.uk, and on the Rayo app.

Alongside new homes, the development will feature a dedicated play area space for childrenWork has officially begun on a new 87-home affordable housing development in Bury(Image: Stonewater)Work has begun on a new development to build 87 new homes in Cambridgeshire. The Tunkers Lane development in Bury will see a mix of homes built as affordable housing.The homes will range from one and two-bedroom bungalows and one-bedroom maisonettes, to two, three, and four-bedroom houses. There will be 36 properties available for shared ownership, 32 allocated for affordable rent, 10 rent to buy homes, and nine available for social rent.Housing provider Stonewater has implemented energy-saving measures to the homes. These include air source heat pumps, solar PV panels, and electric car charging stations for some plots.The development will provide opportunities for apprentices to work on the site and develop their skills, helping to fill the skills shortage in the industry.A piece of public art will be designed for the estate as well as a dedicated play area for children, and an edible garden. Fruit trees and bushes will be incorporated into the scheme for customers to enjoy, to promote sustainability and healthy eating, according to Stonewater.The energy efficient homes are being delivered to meet the local housing demand in Cambridgeshire(Image: Stonewater)An event to mark the beginning of construction took place towards the end of May. The scheme is expected to be completed in the 2027 to 2028 financial year.Nicola Hillier, head of development (East) at Stonewater, said: “These homes will offer a range of options for local people to secure an affordable home in the village they have existing connections with, contributing to the local economy and broader society.”The Tunkers Lane scheme is being built in partnership with Huntingdonshire District Council, Burmor Construction, Bury Parish Council, and Calfordseaden.Patrick Burke, Director at Burmor Construction, said: “We look forward to working closely with Stonewater and our project partners as construction progresses and to seeing this new neighbourhood take shape over the months ahead.”

Cambridgeshire County Council’s Highways and Transport Committee is due to discuss new safety improvement works planned for the guided buswayDavid Prince and Cambridgeshire Live readers16:00, 28 Jun 2026The Cambridge Guided Busway opened in 2011(Image: PA Archive/PA Images)Cambridgeshire Live readers have been discussing the news that further improvement works are scheduled for the Guided Busway to maintain its safety. Councillors are set to consider the proposals at the upcoming Cambridgeshire County Council Highways and Transport Committee meeting.The council reports there has been “significant progress” on safety enhancements throughout the past year. New safety fencing along the southern stretch is nearing completion.To the north, work is progressing between Cambridge Regional College and Milton Road. Following this, contractors will proceed with installing separation fencing between Milton Road and Cambridge North station.Procurement for works along the route from Histon to St Ives is anticipated in summer 2026, with construction scheduled to begin from late summer that year. The council states the Busway, which connects St Ives and Cambridge, provides access to employment, hospitals, and educational facilities, while the adjacent path remains popular with walkers, wheelers, cyclists, and horse riders.Councillors will be asked on 30 June to approve continued delivery of safety works on the northern stretch. The £6 million cost will be funded from Major Infrastructure Reserves.Temporary 30mph restrictions will be reassessed as new safety measures are completed, with variable speeds of up to 40–50mph on the northern stretch where appropriate. Readers have expressed a range of opinions.Regarding future power systems, one reader, Orlockgrey says: “They should put overhead wires on, so we can run electric buses that aren’t weighed down by batteries. Also this would mean if we eventually decided to convert it to a light rail route, half the work will already have been done.”Whynot2 replies: “Would those electric buses have diesel engines in so they can be used on non-overhead lines? But who’s going to pay for it? Will it be bus passengers, cyclists or perhaps pedestrians who use it? No, it’ll be everyone, even those that don’t use it.”Orlockgrey answers: “Good idea – there are actually bi-mode buses in Boston that do this already. Public transport is essential for reducing traffic on the roads. Funding it helps the economy and makes the roads much nicer to drive on.”Rhodabike says: “More improvement works? For that, you first you need to have ‘some’ improvement works. None of the works to date has improved anything. Rather like most other council/GCP infrastructure ‘improvements’.”Freddly writes: “At least we seem to have moved on from blaming the bus franchise when people step onto the busway without looking. Good news also that the £6m cost is being met from Major Infrastructure Reserves, the Reserves might otherwise have been used on road projects that generate more car and van traffic.”Over on our Facebook page, John M comments: “Get the drivers to drive properly, not race to junctions and swerve onto guided tracks, last used scared me stiff.”Clare W asks: “Just curious as to why there are gaps between some of the metal panels where silly people can get through and on to the busway. I thought that was the whole point of putting them up to stop that.”Kelvin A-D says: “More taxpayers money thrown at the Moneypit. So much for it only going to cost £42 million and have a service life of 40 years (Council Statement at the Public Enquiry).”Are you happy that there is more improvement works scheduled to be carried out? Comment below or HERE to have your say.

The £1 billion scheme aims to improve journeys between Cambridgeshire and BedfordshireBlack Cat roundabout from Roxton Road bridge – A421 carriageway.(Image: National Highways)A roundabout is set to open by next summer, after works began in 2023. National Highways continues its work on the Black Cat roundabout on the A1.The £1 billion scheme is turning the roundabout into a three-tier junction, with a new A421 flyover above the roundabout and an underpass below it. It’s also extending a new 10-mile dual carriageway from the Black Cat roundabout to Caxton Gibbet.National Highways has given an update on the works and the road opening, which will be carried out in phases.A National Highways spokesperson said: “As construction moves towards completion, we’re pleased to share our plans for opening the new road and junction improvements that will help make journeys across Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire quicker, safer and more reliable.“In spring 2027, we’ll open the majority of the scheme, including the new 10-mile A421 dual carriageway between Black Cat junction in Bedfordshire and Caxton Gibbet in Cambridgeshire. The final phase of the scheme will open in mid-summer 2027, when the new A1 underpass at Black Cat junction comes into use.“By opening the scheme in phases, road users will be able to benefit from the new road and junction improvements sooner, with safer, quicker and more reliable journeys between Milton Keynes, Bedford, St Neots and Cambridge.”The final part of the scheme – creating the A1 underpass – has been the “most complex” part of the project, National Highways said.The spokesperson added: “During construction, we discovered a higher than expected number of unrecorded underground services, including water, gas and telecommunications services, which needed to be safely moved before work could continue.”A further update on confirmed opening dates will be shared in early 2027.

The beach is often overlooked, but this makes for a more peaceful visitWest Runton beach(Image: Evelyn Simak/Geograph)When the hot weather arrives in England, the beaches quickly fill up with sun-seekers. Unfortunately, people from our landlocked county of Cambridgeshire to travel to get to the coast.However, there are many beaches within an easy driving distance of the county. One that’s worth the visit is West Runton beach in Norfolk, just a two-hour drive from Cambridge.This sand and shingled beach is considered one of the more peaceful to visit in Norfolk. There are miles of footpaths and bridleways for people to walk in the surrounding area.The beach is also backed by cliffs, which offer an “impressive backdrop to the beach”, according to the Visit North Norfolk website. One thing the beach is most famous for is the discovery of a nearly-complete mammoth.Part of the Ice Age animal was first discovered on December 13, 1990. Local residents Margaret and Harold Hems were walking along the beach when they discovered a large bone sticking out of the cliffs.The couple contacted a local museum and it was later discovered that the bone was a pelvic bone of a large steppe mammoth. A year later in 1991, fossil hunter Rob Sinclair discovered more large bones in the area.After the two discoveries, an excavation took place in 1995. Within three months, archaeologists managed to find 85 per cent of a mammoth.This is the most complete set of bones of a mammoth that has been discovered in the world. As well as this major discovery, other small fossils have been found at West Runton, making it an important archaeological spot.As well as being a hotspot for fossils, the beach is often overlooked, as more people visit nearby Cromer. However, this provides a more peaceful visit for people.

The green has a fascinating historyLaundress Green in Cambridge(Image: CambridgeshireLive)A city park, described as “iconic” by previous visitors, offers a scenic area where you can look out for cows grazing. Laundress Green in Cambridge offers a beautiful green area to indulge in picnics, sunbathing, or a walk.The city can be quite overwhelming at times, with all the hustle and bustle – particularly in the busy tourist season. Laundress Green offers a place to escape just a few minutes from the heart of the city.Although today it is a beauty spot, it has a history of hard work – and the name ‘Laundress Green’ hints at its past. Local washerwomen would frequent the area to use the city council washing lines for the laundry staff at the Cambridge colleges.According to Capturing Cambridge, on Mondays and Tuesdays the ground was free from grazing animals, so that women from Granta Place and Mill Lane could safely hang out their laundry there to dry. For this privilege, they likely had to pay a shilling a year and put up their own posts.In those days, people used this part of the River Cam when the best source of water for washing was the river, long before the era of a much simpler method – a washing machine. Eventually, clean water was made available in homes throughout the city and this function at the river became no longer necessary.Situated next to Lammas Land and near The Granta and The Anchor pubs, the green has become a popular place to visit throughout the year, but especially in the summer. A previous visitor to the park described it as “one of the most iconic” river places where “you can find cows grazing in the morning” from spring to autumn.Another wrote on Google: “The banks of the river Cam and the grounds surrounding are a beautiful park to go for a walk, picnic or have some drinks on the pubs around the area. The pound mill is a very beautiful spot with swans and other birds and trees.”

Jurors heard 12 other officers had been investigated over their conduct arising from the “toxic” culture Street had created.Pc Josh Williams, 38, from Huntingdon, pleaded guilty to misconduct in public office.Of 11 others who were investigated, two resigned, one was dismissed for gross misconduct, one received a final warning and two received written warnings.In 2020, Williams was tasked with examining the phone of a female suspect and told Street she was “quite fit”.Street asked him if there were “any nudes”, and Williams replied that there was a video of the woman committing a sexual act.Williams went on to send Street a photo from the woman’s phone depicting her in underwear.The following year, Street asked if Williams still had the intimate private video because he wanted to show it to “the lads from footy”.When interviewed about it, Street claimed he wanted to see the images to reassure himself the woman, who was released without charge, was not the victim of exploitative behaviour.But Prosecutor Anne Whyte KC told jurors it was not Williams’s job to discuss or share the private images, and neither was it Street’s job to ask for nudes or the sex video.