Officers arrested over 1999 shooting

Two Metropolitan police officers have been arrested on suspicion of murder six years after they shot dead a man thought to be carrying a gun outside...

Two Metropolitan police officers have been arrested on suspicion of murder six years after they shot dead a man thought to be carrying a gun outside a London pub.

Harry Stanley, 46, was shot in the hand and the head outside the Alexandra, Hackney, on 22 September 1999. Police had received a call saying he could be a terrorist carrying a sawn-off shotgun in a bag. The item turned out to be a table leg.

Surrey police arrested Chief Inspector Neil Sharman, 42, and PC Kevin Fagan, 38, after "the discovery of new forensic evidence". The pair were cautioned and questioned on suspicion of gross negligence, manslaughter and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice before being released on bail to return on 16 June.

A first inquest recorded an open verdict, which was later overturned. A second returned an unlawful killing verdict, which has also been overturned.

Hosts wake to find raiders in bedroom

A licensee and his wife awoke in the early hours to find robbers in their bedroom ­ who tied them up and stole cash from the safe.

The burglars broke into the Blacksmiths Arms in St Peters Street, St Albans, through a window some time between 1.40am and 2.05am on Tuesday last week. They went to the master bedroom where the couple were woken, restrained,and had their heads covered with pillowcases.

The raiders demanded the keys to the pub safe. They managed to deactivate the alarm system and are believed to have climbed over the beer garden wall into the grounds of Hertfordshire University's Law Faculty. They are then thought to have gone towards St Peter's Church graveyard and along a footpath towards Hall Place Gardens.

No descriptions of the suspects are yet available. "The landlord and lady were fortunately physically unharmed but naturally are very shocked," said PC Vicky Evans.

Anyone with information is urged to call PC Evans on 01707 638234 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Man may have shot himself' in leg

Police believe a 21-year-old Wolverhampton man could have shot himself in the leg outside a Shropshire pub.

The man, who has not been named, was treated at the Princess Royal in Telford after an incident near the Cider House at Wooton, near Bridgnorth, between 10pm and 11pm on 1 June. The man was arrested on suspicion of a firearms offence and released on unconditional bail. Police said the possibility he shot himself is one line of inquiry and CCTV footage is still being studied.

Anyone with information can contact Bridgnorth police on 08457 444 888 or via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Gang cased' pub before burglary

A gang broke into a flat above a Cheshire pub and fled with £2,384 while the licensee was downstairs serving customers.

The raiders broke into the Market Tavern in Sandbach between 9.40pm and 10pm on 2 June and stole the cash from the pub's upstairs office.

Police believe they must have cased the pub prior to the break-in and knew where the takings were kept.

Licensee Margaret Travis said she only avoided confrontation because she had decided to work on her day off.

Hunt for man and boy after arson at pub

Police in Sutton, south London, are searching for a man and a boy in connection with an arson attack at a pub.

The Skinners Arms on London Road, Hackbridge, had been unoccupied for some time and was due for redevelopment in the next few weeks. At 1.20pm on 29 May a man, aged about 40, was seen on the roof of the building with a boy, aged about 12. At 1.25pm a fire started and London Fire Brigade had to use 40,000 gallons of water to control the blaze.

The man and boy were seen at the pub again around 7pm.

The man is white, 5ft 10ins tall and was wearing a white T-shirt and blue jeans. He had an earring in his left ear. The boy is as 5ft 2ins and was wearing blue jeans and a blue T-shirt.

Anyone with information can contact Detective Sergeant Tony Eddington on 0208 649 0471.