THEGAYUK

Tag: Homophobia

The latest news about homophobia across the UK and the globe.

  • Three teenage boys plead guilty after homophobic incident against girlfriends on top of London bus

    Three teenage boys plead guilty after homophobic incident against girlfriends on top of London bus

    Three teenage boys have pleaded guilty to Public Order Act and other offences following a police investigation into a homophobic incident on the N31 bus route.

    The three suspects, aged between 15 and 16 years, appeared at Highbury Magistrates’ Court today (Thursday, 28 November) following a hate crime incident against two females on the N31 bus in the early hours of Thursday, 30 May.

    They will be sentenced on Monday, 23 December.

    [A] a 16-year-old boy pleaded guilty to handling stolen goods (namely a phone) and two offences contrary to section 5 of the public order act.

    [B] a 16-year-old boy pleaded guilty to a section 4a of the public order act offence (namely an aggravated hate crime). A Newton hearing will take place tomorrow (Friday, 29 November) for [B].

    [D] a 15-year-old boy pleaded guilty to handling stolen goods (namely a bank card) and two offences contrary to section 4a of the public order act (namely an aggravated hate crime).

    The investigating officer, Detective Constable Darren Barlow, from the Met’s Roads and Transport Command (RTPC), said:

     “No one should ever be victimised because of their sexuality and I hope that this result brings some form of closure to both victims and they can put this ordeal behind them.

    Detective Superintendent Andy Cox, from the Met’s Roads and Transport Command, said:

     “Any Hate Crime on London’s transport network, or anywhere else in London, will absolutely not be tolerated. The Met’s RTPC officers will always fully investigate crimes that are committed on the bus network and we would urge anyone who has been a victim of crime to contact us.

    “The transport network in London is, and remains, extremely safe and occurrences of this nature are few-and-far between.”

    Mandy McGregor, Head of Transport Policing and Community Safety at TfL, said: 

    “This sickening incident was utterly unacceptable. Homophobic abuse is a hate crime and won’t be tolerated on our network. All of our customers have the right to travel without fear of verbal or physical abuse.

    “We hope this case reminds all of our customers that they should accept everyone for who they are and they have absolutely no right to abuse them.”

    At approximately 0230hrs on Thursday, 30 May, two women, both aged in their 20s, boarded the bus in West Hampstead.

    As they sat on the top deck, they were approached by a group of males who began to make lewd and homophobic comments and gestures to them.

    A fight ensued which left both victims with wounds to their faces after being punched several times by the suspects and a phone and bag were stolen.

    Officers and London’s Ambulance Service (LAS) attended and both females were taken to hospital for treatment to facial injuries.

    Officers from the Met’s Roads and Transport Command identified the suspects and arrested four men, aged between 15-17 on Friday, 7 June, on suspicion of robbery and aggravated GBH. They were taken to separate London police stations for questioning. 

    A fifth male, 16-years-old, was arrested on Saturday, 8 June on suspicion of robbery and aggravated GBH. All five were bailed to a date in early-July.

    On Thursday, 25 July, four males [A, B, C and D] where charged. They appeared at Highbury Corner Youth Court on Wednesday, 21 August and were bailed until today.

    At court today, charges were dropped against [C].

    Detective Superintendent Waheed Khan, the Met’s lead for Hate Crime, concluded: 

    “London is such a diverse and tolerant city and I know that the public were rightly outraged that something of this nature could take place in our city. 

    “Hate crime affects people from all walks of life, and impacts on communities across London. The Met does not tolerate any form of discrimination, and is committed to working with partners, including MOPAC, to robustly tackle hate crime.

    “We would urge hate crime victims who have not spoken to police to come forward and tell us about incidents so they can be fully investigated.”

  • Christian Concern says homosexuality isn’t right

    Christian Concern says homosexuality isn’t right

    The organisation which runs a lobby, publisher, legal clinic and academy have used Twitter to “choose hate”.

    The organisation which runs a book publisher, legal centre and lobby has used twitter to attack the LGBT+ community.

    Christian Concern, the organisation which is currently supporting actor Seyi Omooba sue her former agency and a theatre after a backlash against a “homophobic” Facebook post she posted in 2014, took to their official Twitter to claim that “homosexuality is not right”.

    On the 30th September 2019 Christian Concern took to Twitter to write,

    “Homosexual practice is not right. Jesus is Lord. True love speaks. #MondayMotivation #TrueLoveSpeaks“

    The post was met with a swift reaction, with many joking that “practice makes perfect”.

    A user called, Becky, blasted the organisation for choosing hate.

    Another user questioned, “Why do so-called “Christians” get so hung up about gay sex? Seems an odd thing to focus on when there’s so much more bad stuff going in in the world (like mindless shootings, racism, xenophobia and the like) where people are actually getting hurt. Maybe sort your priorities?”

    And another added, “Nonsense. There’s no place in the future for silly people and idiotic dogma like this. Your ideas will die out. Thank god.”

    https://twitter.com/christopher_ch8/status/1178656863019245568

    The organisation which is funded, in part, by the charity Faith, Truth and Hope often uses social media to comment on LGBT+ legal issues, as well as abortion and legal issues surrounding Christianity.

  • Police are searching for these men after a homophobic attack with a corrosive substance

    Police are searching for these men after a homophobic attack with a corrosive substance

    Police in London are looking to speak to five suspects after four victims were sprayed with a corrosive substance in an alleged homophobic assault outside a KFC in Brixton.

    The attack happened back in January 2019, but following a Crimewatch appeal, Police have released footage of the men they are looking to speak to in connection with the incident.

    In total, four people were assaulted with what is thought to be a corrosive substance spray. Detectives are treating the incidents as linked.

    The footage, taken from a KFC on Brixton Road, SW9, shows five males police would like to speak to in connection with both incidents. 

    According to police reports, the attacks happened on Saturday, 19 January, with the first taking place at around 04:00hrs inside a KFC where a corrosive spray was used on two male victims. 

    The second attack happened just 20 minutes later at a bus stop close to the KFC where the CCTV footage was taken. 

    The two 22-year-old victims told police at the scene that they had been sprayed by an unknown noxious substance, thought to be a type of pepper spray, in what appears to be a hate crime attack.

    Detectives from the South Area Command Unit are continuing to appeal for both victims of the first incident to make themselves known to police to give their account of the assault, and assist with enquiries. 

    Suspect [1] is described as a black male, wearing a black beanie, grey tracksuit, with dark elbow patches and a gilet-type jacket. 

    The second suspect [2] is described as a light-skinned black male with a ‘chin strap’ beard and of a tall muscular build.

    The third male [3] is a black male who had his hood up, the top had white scribbles on it.

    Another suspect [4] was seen wearing a dark navy tracksuit with multiple white stripes on the legs.

    The final suspect [5] was a black male and of a larger build than the other men, with curly, short hair, green tracksuit trousers and a black puffa-style jacket. 

    Detective Constable Amy Cross, of Lambeth CID, the lead investigator on this case, said, “This was a completely unprovoked and targeted attack on at least two members of the public, with a further two victims not yet in contact with police. 

    “Both the attack and the homophobic motivation of this assault are abhorrent, and I appeal to anyone with any information that could assist the investigation to come forward.” 

    Anyone with information is asked to conduct Lambeth CID by dialling 101 and quoting reference CAD 1206/19JAN19.

  • ‘Jesus Lover’: Gay sex causes “significant bodily pain and torture”

    ‘Jesus Lover’: Gay sex causes “significant bodily pain and torture”

    The internet came. It came hard.

    A Twitter user, who describes herself as Jesus loving and a having a BA in English and Bible decided to show her enormous bigotry and lack of understanding by posting a tweet in which she said gay sex caused “significant bodily pain and torture”.

    In the tweet, which has been commented on over 600 times, Lisa Bedrick wrote,

    “Homosexuality is not loving, it’s one person causing another person significant bodily pain and torture.

    “A male penis was Never meant to be inserted into the anus, and it leads to tons of health issues if or when it is.

    “Don’t be gay”

    https://twitter.com/angel28kc/status/1176761844360503297

    Well it took no time for Twitter react and it had one basic message for Lisa.

    “You’re doing it wrong”

    At time of publishing the tweet has been commented on over 650 times and retweeted just 20, meaning that Lisa has been severley ratio’d on the platform.

    Many of those who responded to Ms Bedrick told her that she had “no idea” what she was on about, while others criticised her for her homophobic tweet.

    One user told her, “The opening line of your bio tell me that ever word that tumbles out of your deluded mouth, powered by a closed and indoctrinated mind needs to be treated with the contempt it deserves.”

    Another added simply, “My prostate disagrees.”

    Another asked, “Love between a man and a woman results in childbirth which causes serious discomfort and sometimes death what’s your answer for that?”

    https://twitter.com/mckmg1/status/1176777321904295938

    Oh Lisa… if it hurts too much, use more lube.

  • Warwickshire politician says LGBT people “in unnatural waters”

    Warwickshire politician says LGBT people “in unnatural waters”

    A Warwickshire politician has been called out over a Facebook post in which he refers to queer people as those “who chose fish in unnatural waters”

    The Chair of Claverdon Parish Council, in Warwickshire Cllr has been called out by Warwickshire Pride after an alleged Facebook post in which he said that queer is a word for people “who fish in unnatural waters”.

    The comment was made after Lawton asked the question, “On the LGBT thing, there is a Q on the end now. What does it stand for?”

    In a reply, the elected official wrote, “I am losing the plot here. I thought queer was an offensive term for those who chose to fish in unnatural waters”.

    The word “queer” is used advisedly within the LGBT+ community as many, particularly gay and bi men find the term deeply offensive.

    Warwickshire Pride released a statement condemning the councillor saying,

    “Cllr Lawton’s comments are very disappointing, particularly as he is a public figure and an elected representative of the community. Homophobic comments such as his are incredibly damaging and show how far there is to go until all LGBT+ people can live openly and freely as who they are, without having to put up with hate speech and discrimination.

    “We work year-round with LGBT+ people, supporting and empowering them to be who they are. We also deliver LGBT+ awareness training to organisations and people who are not LGBT+ because anti-LGBT+ views and behaviours are still prevalent. As Cllr Lawton’s comment shows, there are still people who think that being LGBT+ is unnatural.

    “We would welcome an opportunity to engage with Cllr Lawton to explain in person why his comments are deeply offensive and hopefully enlighten him. In the meantime, Cllr Lawton should be utterly ashamed of the language he has used. It is not becoming of someone in his position. We hope to see a meaningful apology from him and a commitment to becoming more LGBT+ aware.

    “We will be raising a complaint with Claverdon Parish Council and also reporting his comment to Warwickshire’s Hate Crime Partnership as a hate incident.

    “Hate is never acceptable and in this case, we hope to engage and educate.”

    The post was published on Lawton’s personal Facebook page and not in an official capacity – which was spotted by a local resident, Jon Abbott according to The Leamington Spa Courier.

    “I now completely understand how my comment has quite rightly been met with such disgust and anger”

    The councillor did issue a full apology to Mr Abbott saying, “An apology. I am of course deeply sorry that you, our mutual friends and acquaintances and others have, quite rightly, been so offended by my crass and completely thoughtless comment on my facebook page last Sunday evening.

    “I have taken some time to consider how best to apologise to you personally and more widely in open forum and have been fortunate to be offered advice from mutual friends in this respect. It was never my intention to cause offence but I now, completely and fully, understand how my comment has quite rightly been met with such disgust and anger.

    “I will not in any way attempt to justify the wording used as I realise that there is no justification whatsoever for the comment made which has, quite naturally, caused you and many others to demonstrate considerable outrage. I have now realised and fully accept that what I thought was an innocuous quote, was the most stupid of actions. This cannot be undone and I will have to live with the shame of this lifelong slur of my having an association with a negative attitude to the LBGTQ community which will hurt as, in my heart, I hold no such feelings.

    “I do not really know how much more I can do to atone for my deplorable and unthinking behaviour but hope that you and others that I have offended will accept this apology in the sincerity that it is given and rest assured that it is a personal lesson learnt in how I should conduct my behaviour going forward. Best regards. Simon D H Lawton”.

  • Court summons for homophobic crimes have plummeted, despite soaring reports of hate crimes

    The number of court summons and charges for those arrested for hate crimes has plummeted, despite hate crime reports doubling over the last five years.

    A Freedom of Information request by the BBC’s 5 Live has found that despite the rise in homophobic hate crime reports the number of people actually going to court to face justice has fallen by 10 per cent, meaning that fewer people are being prosecuted for homophobic hate crimes, despite police calling on victims to come forward and report incidents.

    The report also found that the number of reports soared from 5800 in 2014/15 to over 13,000 reports in the last year.

    But the number of cases that led to charges or court summons fell by 10% over the same time period.

    A BBC Radio 5 Live Freedom of Information (FOI) request found that 13,530 people were recorded as the victims of homophobic hate crimes in the last financial year, compared to around 5800 in 2014/15.

    Over the same period, the number of people actually being charged or issued with a court summons fell from 1157 (20% of complaints) to 1058 (just 8% of complaints), meaning just a small fraction of those arrested for a hate crime actually land up in court or being charged with the offense.

    A hate crime is defined as “any criminal offence which is perceived, by the victim or any other person, to be motivated by a hostility or prejudice”.

    5 Live Investigations sent a Freedom of Information request to 46 police forces across the UK and received full responses from 38.

    Data from Police Scotland was only partial and not included in the analysis.

    The National Police Chiefs’ Council said that many of these crimes involved no witnesses and a lack of evidence.

    © jvanderwolf Depositphotos.com

    “Police will investigate crime reports and will pursue action against those responsible where there is evidence to do so”

    A spokesman for the National Police Chiefs’ Council said:  “Targeting someone because of their sexuality is completely unacceptable. It undermines our fundamental human right to feel safe and can have a devastating impact on victims and the wider community.

    “Police will investigate crime reports and will pursue action against those responsible where there is evidence to do so. Unfortunately, with many cases, there are often no witnesses to these crimes and scarce evidence – this may lead to police being unable to identify a suspect,” he said.

    Different parts of the country have seen more dramatic rises in reported crimes, according to the figures.

    Both West Yorkshire and South Yorkshire Police have seen reports homophobic hate crimes increase five-fold

    In West Yorkshire, there were  961 reports and in South Yorkshire, there were 375 reports over the past five years.

    The proportion of crimes that resulted in a charge or summons, however, fell over the same time, from 19% to 4% in West Yorkshire and from 10% to 3% in South Yorkshire.

    Two of Britain’s largest police forces, the Metropolitan Police and Greater Manchester Police, have also seen an increase in the number of reported crimes, while the number of cases that led to charges or summonsed fell by around a third, to 165 and 50 respectively, over the past five years.

    A spokesman from the Metropolitan Police said, “We recognise that our sanction detection rates have fallen … as many of these non-violent offences present less evidential opportunities and victims often feel that there is a barrier between bringing the matter to court and prefer to make police aware of each offence.”

    “We are committed to improving our total number of sanction detection rates and successful prosecutions and continue to remind communities to report hate crimes even if they do not want to go to court as it helps the police to provide a true picture of the abuse,” he added.

    Listen to BBC Radio 5 Live on Wednesday 11 September from Breakfast at 6 am and all day for further details.

     

  • Gay couple have glass bottle thrown at them in vicious homophobic attack

    Gay couple have glass bottle thrown at them in vicious homophobic attack

    A gay couple in Newport have told of their harrowing experience when a homophobe threw a glass bottle at them

    A young gay couple has spoken about how they were harassed when walking to their car from the railway station after a night out in Newport, Wales.

    Bleddyn Harris and David Barraclough both in their twenties were harassed by a man who hurled homophobic abuse at them on the pavement outside Newport Railway Station at about 10.30pm on the 31st August. The couple were returning from a night out. Bleddyn explained how he had given his partner his coat to keep him warm and was reaching into the coat pocket to retrieve his car keys.

    The man then apparently threw a glass bottle at the pair. Luckily the bottle missed them. The assailant then escaped the scene in a car, which had at least two other occupants.

    Speaking to Wales Online, Bleddyn Harris recalls, “We were walking back from Le Pub to my car because it was late and we were doing the usual couple things – linking arms,

    “I could see this guy from afar and he was already kicking off. In my 26 years as a gay man, I know the look. He was shouting and yelling.

    “We had stopped because I wanted to get my keys out of my boyfriends pocket.

    “Before I knew it he’s telling us we need to f*** off and this bottle came smashing at my boyfriend’s feet.

    The man is described as in his 30s and strangely was wearing a hat covered in fairy lights.

    Harries took to Twitter to speak about his ordeal saying, “Last night, my boyfriend and I were walking back to my car (linking arms) from a gig when a guy threw a glass bottle at us and told us – in not so many nice words – that we need to go elsewhere. Homophobia at its best. This is why we still need pride”.

    https://twitter.com/bleddynharris/status/1168060870099951617

    Speaking to THEGAYUK.com Bleddyn was keen to stress that this type of occurrence was all too common, saying that there was an “undercurrent of phobia towards non-binary, trans individuals and people who are bi”.

    He said despite the incident he was not going to hide who he is, saying “I will continue to be as fabulous…it will embolden me”, but was worried that it might leave his boyfriend “second-guessing” whether to hold his hand in public in future.

    Do LGBT+ people fear holding their partner’s hands in public?

    In 2019 we asked readers of THEGAYUK.com whether they’d be comfortable in holding their partner’s hand in public. 85 per cent of people said that they would feel uncomfortable holding their partner’s hand in public.  Only 15 per cent of those who answered said they would feel comfortable.

    Percentage of LGBT+ couples who feel comfortable holding hands in public

    2016 50%

    2018 41%

    2019 15%

    Worryingly the LGBT+ community is getting warier of showing public displays of affection on the streets of the UK. In 2018 when we conducted the same survey, only 41% said they wouldn’t feel they could hold hands with their partner and in 2016 that figure was 23%.

  • Homophobe landed £140 fine for painting anti-gay slurs on garage

    Homophobe landed £140 fine for painting anti-gay slurs on garage

    A 55-year-old man has been ordered to pay £140 in damages after spraying a homophobic slur on a garage door.

    • Was ordered to pay £140 in damages.

    • Parsons denied the allegations

    • Parsons was identified on CCTV

    A vandal who used spray paint to daub a garage door with homophobic slurs has been ordered by a court to pay £140.

    Michael Parsons, 55, was hit with the fine after he appeared at court in South Tyneside last week to admit the criminal damage.

    On January 16 this year police received a report that homophobic slurs had been spray-painted on a garage door on Lane Head in Ryton.

    Officers identified Parsons from CCTV footage in the back lane in which the pensioner could be clearly seen committing the offence.

    He was arrested but claimed he had just had foot surgery and required the use of crutches so could not have been responsible.

    But the vandal was left red-faced when police showed him CCTV of him leaving a nearby supermarket without his crutches.

    The 55-year-old had entered the store with them on his arms but accidentally left them in the shop before leaving unaided.

    After being confronted with the footage, Parsons, of Greenfields, Ryton, pleaded guilty to one count of criminal damage.

    He was handed a conditional discharge at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court on August 29 but was made to pay £140 because of the homophobic nature of the graffiti.

    Following the case, investigating officer PC Ferenc Szilvasi slammed Parsons behaviour and said he had shown no remorse when questioned by police.

    He said: “This mindless vandalism left the victim with significant damage to her door but it was the nature of the graffiti that was so upsetting.

    “She was very distressed to be targeted by this vandal and I am glad that we have been able to get her a result at court.

    “This type of behaviour is completely unacceptable and I want people to know that we will take action against offenders.

    “He is a prolific criminal who showed absolutely no remorse and tried to claim that the person in the footage could not be him.

    “The only reason he admitted the offence was because of the overwhelming evidence against him and I am glad we have secured a conviction.

    “Magistrates ordered Parsons to pay the money he did because this was recorded as a hate crime and I hope that reassures victims.

    “Being you is not a crime and nobody should be targeted for who they are. If you have been a victim of hate crime then please get in touch.”

    What is a Hate Crime?

    A crime is considered to be a hate crime if someone has been targeted because of who they are their race, faith, religion, disability, gender identity, age and sexual orientation.

    Anyone can report a hate crime – victims, families and friends, carers or someone unrelated to a victim who has been a witness.

    You can do this by calling police on 101 or by filling in an online reporting form at the Northumbria Police website.

     

  • Jonathan Harvey had the perfect clap back for “gay sin” bigot

    Jonathan Harvey had the perfect clap back for “gay sin” bigot

    When one the world’s most famous gay authors makes a clap back against religious bigotry towards gay people – he does it well.

     

    Beautiful Thing writer, Jonathan Harvey had a few words for a person on Twitter who claimed that giving into sin, and in particular being gay, could “ruin” us if we let that sin “rule” us.

    In the Tweet, Lisa Bedrick, who describes herself as having a BA in English and a “minor in Bible” wrote, “Maybe gay people are born gay. We are All born with an inclination toward some sin, but we can either have self control over that sin or we can let it rule us and ruin our lives”.

    https://twitter.com/angel28kc/status/1159958159689166848

    The Tweet has gone viral with over 7,000 responses to it.

    Gimme Gimme Gimme creator Jonathan Harvey wasn’t having any of it and clapped back, “Jesus would be ashamed of you dear. Your humble braggery about your perfection is a fuckin sin dear. Pipe down.

    He then tweeted Lisa directly, adding, “I’m a bit worried about your claim that Jesus loves you. I’m not sure he will if you spread incorrect information like homosexuality is caused by child abuse. He’ll see that as bearing false witness and the bible considers that a no-no.”

    However, Jonathan wasn’t the only celeb to get involved, Lord Michael Cashman wrote, “Take your opinion about other peoples lives wrap it in tinfoil and place it in the fridge of your god and if you really are a true believer allow them to decide.

    “You commit the ultimate blasphemy by sitting in the place of your god and telling and judging others. Move along”.

    While Drag superstar Lady Bunny, wrote, “Maybe some straight people are born straight. Even though they’re born with an inclination to yell at sports games with hot dogs on their breath while wearing fanny packs & Uggs, gays pray that they’ll exercise fashion self control b4 they ruin the world!”

    “Is homosexuality caused by a fear of having children?”

    Inexplicably, Ms Bedrick followed the tweets a few other questions and comments which were beyond EXTRA.

    One read, “This might make some of you mad but I think this is a valid question. Is homosexuality caused by a fear of having children?”

    In another, she said that she thought that homosexuality was caused by sexual abuse, saying “Regarding homosexuality, my heart goes out to those who are because I could have been there. I think it is caused by being sexually abused, and I was. But All things are possible with God. You might not like the opposite sex due to fear from sexual abuse, but you can overcome. ;)”

    Jonathan had a response to this doozy of Tweet, saying “The only thing I’ve ever been abused by is your humongous ego, y dozy melt. Yours, a gay.”

     

     

     

     

  • Disgraced Rugby Player Israel Folau wants $10 million

    The disgraced rugby player, Israel Folau has launched a $10 million lawsuit against Rugby Australia.

    Israel Folau was dismissed from his position at Rugby Australia earlier this year after a series of homophobic tweets surfaced. At the time he was one of the highest-paid sportspeople in Australian sport.

    In April the Australian Rugby Union served Israel Folau with a contract ending breach notice, following on from offensive social media posts, one of which said that “hell awaits” gay people and bashing transgender people, using his Christian beliefs as a defence for his views.

    In June Folau and Rugby Australia entered mediation at a Fair Work Commission hearing. There was no resolution after a near four-hour meeting.

    Now Folau has apparently filed a lawsuit and wants a cool $10 million in compensation from Rugby Australia to cover the loss of sponsorship and potential future contracts.

    Free Speech, Religious Freedoms or both?

    Under the Fair Work Act, it is not legal to sack an employee for an employee’s religion. Folau’s suit is a test case in this area and could determine “whether the word ‘religion’ should be interpreted to include protection for an employee’s religious expression and activities” according to employment layer Josh Bornstein.

    Many of Folau’s supporters have raised concerns over whether the player’s right to free speech was curbed.

  • Arrest made after homophobic abuse shouted at Pride event

    Arrest made after homophobic abuse shouted at Pride event

    A woman in her late 30s has been arrested following a homophobic incident at a Pride event over the weekend.

    A 38-year-old woman has been arrested in connection to homophobic abuse levelled at pride attendees last weekend. Footage emerged of a woman dressed in a niqab shouting “shame” and “despicable” at pride goers in Waltham Forest.

    In the video, which has been seen over 3.6 millions times taken, she could be heard shouting, “God created Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve.

    “Shame on you, shame on all of you.

    “Shame on you, you despicable people. Shame on you, you shameless people.

    Arrested under section 4a of the Public Order Act

    The Metropolitan Police’s Waltham Forest Twitter account said on Monday: “Officers investigating footage circulating on social media of abuse directed at those taking part in a Pride event in Waltham Forest have arrested a 38-year-old woman under section 4a of the Public Order Act.

    She has been taken into custody at a north London police station.”