Demands to downsize a memorial for Leon Briggs turned into an “insensitive and unwarranted” destruction of his shrine, according to campaigners.

The Luton News first revealed in February that Beds Police had contacted the Briggs family to tell themthat the memorial– outside Luton Police Station on Buxton Road– had been been deemed a “security risk”.

Leon, 39, died after being detained at the station under the Mental Health Act in November 2013.

Justice 4 Leon campaigners have told the Luton News that the father-of-two’s family were told by police that the memorial would be downsized and not removed.

Following a meeting on May 29 all that remains of the shrine is a small poster and two candle containers.

J4L’s Liberty Louise said: “We find the police’s actions insensitive and unwarranted, and Leons family feel that the police simply want to erase his memory and what may or may not have happened to him during his contact with police officers.

“The argument that the memorial site was a terrorist threat is unevidenced, in particular in relation to the fact that despite vigils and protests, there has not been one incident of unrest or violence or a threat to any member of the public or the police.”

Liberty added that campaigners will push for a permanent plaque to be erected at the station.

A Beds Police spokesperson said: “We have been working closely with the family of Leon Briggs around the removal of the memorial outside Luton Police Station which was identified as a potential security risk.

“It was agreed for the family to reduce the size of the memorial and we have offered to discuss a more permanent memorial to Mr Briggs.

“We understand this is obviously a very sensitive subject and appreciate the family’s understanding and support.”

A jury has been shown the moment when former Luton Town, Chelsea and England centre forward Kerry Dixon knocked a drinker off a bar stool and punched and kicked the man while he was on the ground.

It is said to have happened in a Dunstable pub after the man had told the former goalscoring legend “F... off fatso.”

Earlier, it’s claimed the man approached Mr Dixon in the pub’s lavatory and said “You’re a drug dealer, have you got any drugs?”

The attack by the 53-year-old ex-striker, of Jardine Way, Dunstable, was captured on the pub’s CCTV system.

In the footage Mr Dixon is seen punching 38-year-old father-of-two Ben Scoble in the face sending him to the ground.

Mr Dixon is then shown bending over his alleged victim and deliver more punches and kicks.

The clip was played at Luton Crown Court on Tuesday when Mr Dixon went on trial pleading not guilty to assaulting Mr Scoble occasioning him actual bodily harm in the early hours of May 15 last year.

The court was told Mr Dixon will be claiming he feared he was about to be attacked and struck out in a “pre-emptive strike” in self defence.

Simon Stirling, prosecuting, said Mr Dixon told police who later interviewed him he had continued to hit the other man “to make sure he stayed down and no longer presented a threat to him.”

The incident took place at around 12 40am in The Nags Head in High Street North.

Outlining the prosecution’s case against the former footballer, Mr Stirling said Mr Scoble, a builder, had been in the pub that evening drinking with a friend. Also there was Mr Dixon and his girlfriend.

The jury were told that at some point during the evening there may have been a conversation in the pub’s lavatory between Mr Scoble and Mr Dixon which the former footballer “took exception to.”

It’s alleged that a short while later Mr Scoble was sitting at the bar where Mr Dixon and his girlfriend had previously been sitting.

The CCTV footage then showed Mr Dixon take Mr Scoble’s pint of beer from the bar and take it to a nearby table.

Moments later the jury saw the ex-footballer throw a flurry of punches, knocking Mr Scoble to the floor and continuing the attack.

He is then seen to remove an empty pint glass that was still in Mr Scoble’s hand and place it on the bar before walking out

The jury were told Mr Scoble suffered a cut lip and two of his front teeth were loosened.

Five days after the incident Mr Dixon was interviewed by police and said that in the pub’s lavatory, Mr Scoble had asked him if he had any drugs.

He said he felt the builder and his friend were being antagonistic towards him and he said when he asked him why he was sitting on the stool where he and his girlfriend had been sitting, he was met with the reply “f... off fatso”

Mr Dixon then claimed that because of an empty glass that was in Mr Scoble’s left hand he was frightened and struck first in a “pre-emotive strike.”

Mr Stirling went on: “He said as a pre-emptive strike he went to hit him and continued to hit him again to make sure he stayed on the ground and no longer presented a threat to him?”

The court was told Mr Dixon then removed the glass from the other man’s left hand and placed it on the bar.

“In essence he says he was acting in self defence and that is the issue you will have to concentrate on,” said Mr Stirling.

He told the jury the questions they would have to ask were was it necessary to use force, did he honestly believe he was under threat and about to be attacked and was the force proportionate?

In the witness box Mr Scoble, who lives in East London, said as he left the pub’s lavatory he had noticed a pint of beer on a window sill and as Mr Dixon was nearby offered it to him.

He said he had no recollection of approaching Mr Dixon in the pub and asking him if he had any drugs.

Mark Wyeth QC, defending, told Mr Scoble that having been out drinking since around 6pm that evening he was out to provoke Mr Dixon that night and had “disrespected” him in the toilets.

The barrister said when Mr Dixon had asked him to move from the seat where he and his girlfriend had been sitting his responce had been “f... off fatso. I don’t give a f... who you are either.”

Mr Scoble replied: “I deny that”.

Mr Wyeth said it was because of the manner in which Mr Scoble had been gripping the empty glass in his left hand, that his client had decided to disarm him and had used force to get him to release it.

Mr Wyeth told Mr Scoble he had “presented a clear and present danger” to Mr Dixon and that’s why he had struck him.

Mr Scoble replied: “I don’t accept that.”

Case proceeding

A joyrider who hit a man and carried on driving with the victim on the car’s bonnet has been found guilty of dangerous driving.

Luke Hazell, 22, of Thurlow Close, Luton, was found guilty of two counts of taking a vehicle without consent, two counts of dangerous driving.

On June 12 2014, Hazell was driving along Tomlinson Avenue, Luton, when he hit a the man, who was carried along on the car’s bonnet and windscreen for a short distance before he was thrown clear.

Later that evening Hazell collided with another vehicle before crashing the car he was driving in to a wall.

It later emerged that Hazell had failed a driving test that same day.

Detective Constable Colin Richardson, of the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit, said: “Hazell’s crime spree was exceedingly dangerous and potentially put several people’s lives at risks.

“He showed no regard for anyone’s safety, and failed to stop at a scene of a serious accident, without knowing whether the person he had hit was injured or even alive.

“He broke a number of laws and we’re really pleased that justice has been done and that he has been found guilty today.”

Hazell has been remanded pending sentencing in July at Luton Crown Court.

Protracted delays to an IPCC probe into the death of Leon Briggs have been branded “unacceptable”.

Leon, 39, died after being detained at the Luton Police Station under the Mental Health Act in November 2013. Five officers were then suspended.

The incident has since been probed by the Independent Police Complaints Commission, but despite the father-of-two’s family being told to expect a report around Easter there have not yet been any published findings.

Campaigners told the Herald &Post that the IPCC has delayed the conclusion of the investigation to wait on two reports, one of which is said to be coming from West Midlands Police inspector Michael Brown.

Insp Brown, who has previously referred to officers as “street-corner psychiatrists”, is the mental health coordinator at the College of Policing.

Liberty Louise, of the Justice 4 Leon campaign, told us: “This wait is totally unacceptable,and again is seen as an attempt to lower any possible charges, by bringing unrelated reports from non independent sources.

“The IPCC refuse to give the families solicitor a time frame... it is nearly three years since the investigation began and like so many other cases involving deaths in custody we have seen reports of collusion within the force and delay after delay in the family being given a conclusion.”

Dozens of police officers have gathered in remembrance of PC Jon Henry, who was killed in Luton eight years ago today.

On June 11 2007 PC Henry responded to reports of a man threatening members of the public with a knife on George Street, Luton.

He was stabbed twice by Tennyson Obih and died later that day.

Obih, who was a paranoid schizophrenic, was convicted of murder and jailed for life.

At the time of PC Henry’s death he left behind his wife Mary and daughter Maggie, who was less than one year old at the time.

To mark the anniversary officers gathered around PC Henry’s plaque on George Street at 12:30 this afternoon for a one minute silence.

A short poem was then read out.

Assistant chief constable Mark Collins, who met PC Henry’s family today, said: “It is important that the force and the communities in Bedfordshire pay tribute to PC Jon Henry, who paid the highest price carrying out his duty to protect the people of Bedfordshire.

“This was a young man with a very young family and our hearts go out to them today.

“Bedfordshire Police is full of brave and selfless people committed to protecting people and fighting crime and this gives us all an opportunity to reflect on the bravery of all of our officers who work hard every day to keep Bedfordshire safe.”

A serious accident on the old A421 near Sheeptick End in Lidlington has closed the road both ways.

The road is closed up to the A507.

Police and emergency services are at the scene of the collision between a car and a lorry which happened at around 12.24 this lunchtime

It is the same road where three people were killed in a collision two weeks ago.

A mum from Lewsey Farm recorded her angry outbust after a sandwich bought from a Subway store in Luton allegedly contained stale meat.

Jane Leach, 27, was in the store on George Street on Thursday, June 11, when she purchased the turkey salad sandwich.

She said: “I bit into it and it was rock hard and all dark. It was disgusting. It could have been my daughter eating that and she can’t express herself.”

Ms Leach described the meat variously as “rotten” and “moudly”.

She claims she alerted staff to the problem, only to be told she needed to pay for her drink of Coca-Cola.

Ms Leach said: “I was waiting for 15 minutes and then I lost my temper. They offered to change my sandwich and the woman behind the counter threw it in the bin.”

Enraged, Ms Leach demanded the binned sandwich back as evidence. It was returned to her, with some of the stale meat allegedly torn off.

And angry Ms Leach then recorded the dispute in the store.

She added: “I’m quite funny about what I eat.”

A Subway spokesman said: “Following an incident on June 11 at a Subway store on George Street we are unable to provide any further information due to an on-going internal investigation.

“We will be taking appropriate action once this is complete.”

Former Luton Town, Chelsea and England centre forward Kerry Dixon could be jailed after being found guilty of assaulting a man in a Dunstable pub.

Dixon, 53, of Jardine Way, Dunstable, punched a drinker off a bar stool in a late night attack in the Nags Head in High Street North.

Then, as the man lay on the ground, he delivered further punches and two kicks.

The ex-footballer was told by a judge that he now faces a custodial sentence.

Judge Barbara Mensah, sitting at Luton Crown Court today, told Dixon she was adjourning sentence for one week until Friday, June 19, for a pre-sentence report.

She told him: “I have taken the view that this is a serious assault, for which I will be considering a custodial sentence. Come prepared for a custodial sentence.”

She granted the former Hatters player bail, but made it a condition that he not go into the Nags Head where he had attacked 38-year-old father of two Ben Scoble in the early hours of May 15 last year.

The assault was captured on the pub’s CCTV system and played to the jury during the five-day trial.

Dixon pleaded not guilty to a charge of assaulting Mr Scoble occasioning him actual bodily harm.

During the trial, Dixon had claimed to the jury he was being hassled by Mr Scoble, who went and sat on his stool by the bar where he had been sitting with his girlfriend through the evening.

The CCTV footage that was played showed Dixon approaching the victim and taking his pint glass from the bar and placing it on a nearby table. Moments later he delivered a flurry of punches, knocking the builder off the stool and down onto the floor of the pub, where he continued the attack.

In the witness box, Dixon had claimed he feared he was about to be attacked by Mr Scoble and struck out in a pre-emptive strike, which he said was in self defence.

He said that although he had removed the pint glass from the bar, the victim was still holding a near-empty pint glass in his left hand on the bar.

The ex-footballer told the jury that he still bore the scar of a glass attack that happened in another pub in Dunstable ten years before.

He claimed that had been running through his mind when he struck out.

Dixon told the jury that when he asked the other man to get off his stool, he was told “F--- off fatso!”

Earlier in the evening, he said the victim had been disrespectful to him in the pub’s lavatory, when Scoble had asked him “Are you the drug dealer? Well are you? Have you got any?”

Giving evidence, Mr Scoble told the court he had not spoken to Dixon in the pub’s lavatory and he denied he had been abusive to him at the bar.

During the trial, Dixon told the jury that at the height of his career in the mid 1980’s he had earnt £400 a week.

Following the jury’s verdict of guilty, the court was told Dixon had a previous conviction for driving with excess alcohol in 2000 and had been cautioned for common assault in June 2002.

Before adjourning the sentencing, Judge Mensah said that she wanted to learn more about Dixon’s personal circumstances to help her arrive at the correct sentence.

During the next week, he will be interviewed by staff from the Probation Service, who will compile a report for the judge.

Almost 2,000 girlguides got together to mark their centenary at the weekend.

Bedfordshire Girlguides gathered at Cardinal Newman Catholic High School, Luton on Sunday to celebrate the landmark.

In Bedfordshire the Guide Movement took root in 1916 with the formation of the 1st Luton Company, so it was a fitting tribute to return to Luton for the 100 year celebrations of the charity.

The sun shone as 1,700 girls and leaders from across Bedfordshire enjoyed a fun packed day.

The girls took part in a host of great activities including roller skating, a circus big top, zorbing, fencing and lots more.

Bedfordshire Girlguiding County Commissioner Ann Crome was pleased to welcome Deputy Lord Lieutenant Dr Nazia Khanum OBE, Bedfordshire High Sheriff Lady Erroll and Luton North MP Kelvin Hopkins MP to the commemorations

To find out more about Girlguiding call 0800 169 5901 or visit www.bedsguiding.org.uk/index.php/contact-us

An investigation has been launched after a man died in custody at Luton Police Station.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has begun an independent investigation following the death of the 25-year-old man at Luton Police Station on Saturday.

A spokesman said: “The man was arrested by Bedfordshire Police officers at an address in Luton at 8.47am and taken into custody.

“He subsequently became unresponsive in his cell and died at the scene. An independent investigation was declared at 1.45pm and IPCC investigators were deployed to Luton Police Station and the post-incident procedure where they remain conducting initial enquiries.

“The investigation is in its early stages. Further information will be provided in due course,” he added.

Associate Commissioner Guido Liguori, who is overseeing the investigation, said: “I would like to offer my sincere condolences to the man’s family following his death. We are in the process of making contact with them to explain our role.”

Beds Police deputy chief constable Jon Boutcher has said that “there is nothing to suggest” police involvement in the death of a 25-year-old man at Luton Police Station on Saturday.

The man, who is from Luton, was arrested in Purley Centre on suspicion of domestic violence at 8.45am.

Police say that after being detained at the station on Buxton Road the 25-year-old “became ill” and died in his cell.

The incident was referred to the IPCC at 1.45pm.

The death comes 18 months after father-of-two Leon Briggs died at the station, after being detained under the Mental Health Act.

Deputy chief constable Jon Boutcher said: “The IPCC was informed of the incident, as is procedure when a person dies who has been in recent contact with the police. An independent investigation in to the circumstances surrounding this death has been launched.

“No further details will be released in relation to the deceased until a formal inquest has been opened.

“Our thoughts are with the family at this sad time and we will do all we can to co-operate with the investigation and help provide the family, the Coroner and the IPCC with accurate information about how and why he tragically died.

“Without prejudice to the on-going investigation, from what we know at this time there is nothing to suggest this tragic death was caused by any police action, but we are keeping an open mind and we are determined that a full and transparent investigation is conducted so that the causes of this sad loss can be established for the family.

“As there will be an IPCC independent investigation in to the circumstances surrounding this death it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.”

Denbigh High School students have collected 2,000 items Luton Foodbank in just one week, after pledging to support the foodbank.

Luton Foodbank was launched in 2013 to provide emergency food supplies for people in crisis in the borough, after research found that nearly 10 per cent of Luton’s population do not have the ability to feed themselves adequately.

Project co-ordinator at Luton Foodbank, Salma Khan, said: “The response from the pupils and staff at Denbigh has been overwhelming.

“The school not only supported the foodbank with collecting hundreds of items but they had a week-long school competition, which gave the most-needed items higher points, so the collection actually fills a huge gap in our stock levels.

“We rely solely on donations from the local community and the support from the school will go a long way.”

Denbigh High teacher Asma Baig, said: “This was a whole school initiative and we are pleased that our donations will go a long way in supporting the foodbank and those struggling in Luton.”

The Luton man who died in a police cell on Saturday morning has been named by his family as Istiak Yusuf.

The 25-year-old, who lived at Purley Centre with his wife and 6-month-old baby girl, collapsed at Luton Police Station following an arrest on allegations of domestic violence.

Police say that the 25-year-old “became ill” and died in his cell.

Attiq Malik, speaking on behalf of Mr Yusuf’s family, has today told the Luton News that the 25-year-old had no known medical conditions at the time of the incident.

Mr Malik said: “Mr Yusuf was arrested shortly before 9am on Saturday morning and within a couple of hours her passed out in the cell.

“Emergency services were called and he was pronounced dead there.

“We still don’t know exactly what happened as the IPCC have secured the area and that restricts access to CCTV and other things.

“No-one was aware of any previous medical conditions and it comes as a massive shock.”

Mr Yusuf’s death was referred to the IPCC at 1.45pm on Saturday.

The death comes 18 months after father-of-two Leon Briggs died at the station, after being detained under the Mental Health Act.

Mr Malik added: “This could be innocent and a coincidence but I know the people of Luton are extremely concerned about this given what happened with Leon Briggs.

“At this stage the family just want answers.”

Beds Police deputy chief constable Jon Boutcher has said that “there is nothing to suggest” police involvement in the death of Mr Yusuf.

Mr Boutcher added: “The IPCC was informed of the incident, as is procedure when a person dies who has been in recent contact with the police. An independent investigation in to the circumstances surrounding this death has been launched.

“No further details will be released in relation to the deceased until a formal inquest has been opened.

“Our thoughts are with the family at this sad time and we will do all we can to co-operate with the investigation and help provide the family, the Coroner and the IPCC with accurate information about how and why he tragically died.

“Without prejudice to the on-going investigation, from what we know at this time there is nothing to suggest this tragic death was caused by any police action, but we are keeping an open mind and we are determined that a full and transparent investigation is conducted so that the causes of this sad loss can be established for the family.

“As there will be an IPCC independent investigation in to the circumstances surrounding this death it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.”

Justice 4 Leon has called for a public enquiry into the practises at Luton Police Station after the death of Istiak Yusuf on Saturday.

Mr Yusuf, 25, of Purley Centre, collapsed at the Buxton Road station following an arrest on allegations of domestic violence.

Police say that the 25-year-old “became ill” and died in his cell.

The incident comes 18 months after the death of Leon Briggs, who was held at the station under the Mental Health Act.

Following the incident five officers were suspended and the Independent Police Complaints Commission launched a probe, which has not yet concluded.

A campaign set up in the aftermath of Mr Briggs’ death has now called for increased scrutiny of Luton Police Station following Mr Yusuf’s death.

Justice for Leon’s Liberty Louise said: “We demand an inquiry into the procedures and protocol followed by Bedfordshire Police at Luton Police Station.

“This is the second death in two years, where a civilian has lost their life inside the cells at Luton.

“We demand action be taken now to look into the practices of Bedfordshire police at Luton Station, as there is evidently something very wrong occurring at the station which requires immediate attention.”

Liberty added: “We have another death in custody, that may or may not have been a result of police action, but regardless of this it is evident poor decisions have been made.

“These decisions have meant another loss of life for our community, another bereaved family that will have to suffer the onslaught of an IPCC investigation that seeks to blame the victim and not the perpetrators.

“We put it to the police and the IPCC that in these instances of deaths in custody, without police action, or indeed non action, these individuals would still be alive.

“Our joint campaigns will now be striving for a public inquiry into Luton police Station,and that it is done so,with the benefit of the community rather than the police in mind.”

The construction of a new junction on the M1 aimed at helping to reduce congestion around Luton and Dunstable starts on Wednesday, June 17.

Junction 11A will be located just to the south of Toddington Services and is part of a new £161m link road between the A5 and the M1, work on which began in March.

Highways England project manager Karen Green said: “This junction is a vital part of this significant road improvement. The new link road will be a major new bypass for Dunstable, reducing congestion and improving safety on the A5, and reducing pressure on the A5 through Dunstable town centre. Work on the project is progressing well.

“To build the junction we will need roadworks on the M1 between Junctions 11 and 12, but we are working closely with our contractor and local partners to ensure disruption to road users during this work is kept to a minimum.”

Once completed in spring 2017, the link road, a new 2.8-mile dual carriageway, will improve the east-west connection between the A5 and M1. Earlier this year, Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin attended the official start of works ceremony for the £162.1 million scheme.

While the new junction is being built, lane 3 on the M1 will be closed between Junctions 11 and 12 in both directions. Three lanes will remain open, with traffic running on the hard shoulder and lanes 1 and 2.

The roadworks, including safety barriers, signs, CCTV and average speed cameras, will stay in place throughout the junction construction work, which will be carried out in phases and should be finished in spring 2017 as the scheme nears completion.

The roadworks will be installed overnight between June 17 and 22, between 9pm and 6am each night, using temporary lane closures and a reduced 50mph speed limit.

Work will start on the northbound carriageway, before moving to the southbound carriageway.

A serious accident on the old A421 near Sheeptick End in Lidlington has closed the road both ways.

The road is closed up to the A507.

Police and emergency services are at the scene of the collision between a car and a lorry which happened at around 12.24 this lunchtime

It is the same road where three people were killed in a collision two weeks ago.

A 61-year-old man from Luton has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after an attack Cambridge this morning.

Police were called at 1.16am with reports of a stabbing in East Road, Cambridge.

A man in his late 20s/early 30s has been taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital with severe, life-threatening injuries.

The 61-year-old man from Luton is currently in custody at Parkside Police Station in Cambridge.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, is making a parochial visit to Luton on Thursday.

The principal leader of the Church of England, will start his visit at St Mary’s Church on Church Street, Luton at around 11am, before walking through the town centre to Luton Town Hall where he will meet council leaders and interfaith leaders.

The visit has been organised for several months and has no connection to the planned Britain First march on June 27.

Afterwards he will visit Bedford Prison, the Bunyan Centre and Bedford town centre before a private visit to Shuttleworth College.

Pothole repairs are about to be stepped up as Central Beds Council’s Velocity Patcher is brought back to target the area’s roads.

The machine was one of the new techniques introduced last year. Between August and December 2014, the Velocity Patcher repaired more than 6,000 potholes across 204 roads in Central Bedfordshire and it is back for a second spell in the area this summer.

The machine can fix potholes within two minutes, rather than the hour that conventional filling methods can take, by ‘blowing’ material into the hole. So as well as being able to fix more potholes in the same time, it minimises disruption to the public.

Councillor Brian Spurr, Executive Member for Communities, said: “Maintaining our roads is a key priority for the council and we are always looking at ways to get the best possible value for residents as well as keeping people on the move.

“Using the Velocity Patcher has meant we have been able to carry out many more repairs than we would have done using conventional methods, as these impressive results show.

“As well as minimising disruption for residents, it also enables us to keep our highways team safe while they work.”

The first programme of repairs was funded from an additional government grant but due to the success of the Velocity Patcher programme and having monitored the repairs over the winter the council has decided to continue this approach from its own funding this year.

To find out more about the highways service or report a pothole using the online reporting system, visit www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/highways.

Two Scouting stalwarts have been recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.

Ray Aldous and Rita Jarman have both been awarded the MBE for services to Young People and Scouting.

Ray, now 82, has spent the past 60 years involved with the Scout movement. He first joined 7th Luton Scouts as a boy and when doing his National Service at the Suez Canal in the 50s he got involved with the Rover Scouts.

Back home he became a Scout Master and had a Bedfordshire county appointment before becoming assistant district commsioner for the Icknield district.He is still supporting the Scouts as public relations officer.

“I’m absolutely gobsmacked,” the father-of-two said of the award. “I’m absolutely over the moon as you can imagine.”

Rita, 82, also celebrates over 60 years continuous service with the Scouts.

She said: “I was amazed when I found out! You know we’re just ordinary people but we’ve been in Scouting over 60 years. It’s become a way of life for us.”

Rita first began working with the Scouts in December of 1948 aged 16, when she was appointed Cub Master.

After some time off to care for her family, she returned to the Scouts and has never looked back.

She said: “I’m not in it so often now because I don’t run a section, but I do help out when they need me!”

From 1971 until 1992, Rita was ADC Cub Scouts with the Icknield District, and afterwards became District Cub Scout Leader spending her time helping out with packs in the district that were short of leaders.