Police launch an investigation into Ann Widdecombe death

Silvershadow

She had CCTV and a ring type doorbell. They probably know who but can’t say. Nigel Farage seems to know a bit more as he claims a car was on her driveway minutes before. He says it’s premeditated.

That makes sense what I thought CCTV/doorbell.

Farage doesnt. How does he get insider information - and should he be sharing it!

Wyllow3

On the 6pm R4 news they repeated what the police are saying after the the release of the man they arrested.

They are still looking for a white male and still clear it was not a political or terrorist perpetrator

They have clearly information they have not released: and it obviously cannot be released as to how.

I don't keep up to date with the news regularly.

It's encouraging though - that they have more specific information which they obviously cannot share with the public yet.

... a point which some posters on FB should attempt to understand when making silly comments like "we are not being told the truth", Pointing out that they are, in fact, not privy to the details of the investigation in order not to jeopardise it is futile... <<sigh>>

Wyllow3

On the 6pm R4 news they repeated what the police are saying after the the release of the man they arrested.

They are still looking for a white male and still clear it was not a political or terrorist perpetrator

They have clearly information they have not released: and it obviously cannot be released as to how.

Your highlighted sentence may no longer be correct according to FB. I hope they catch him asap.

I would rather get my updates from Devon & Cornwall Police who say:

A 26-year-old man who was arrested on Friday 10 July on suspicion of murder has since been released from custody and is no longer part of the investigation.

…

We believe the attack took place on Wednesday 8 July at around 12.30pm.

Our enquiries are moving at pace for a suspect who is believed to be a white male.

news.devon-cornwall.police.uk/news-article/20366ff3-e87c-f111-9d98-6045bdd24049

Some of the comments on this thread are no different in sentiment from the ones about Ann Widdicombe on social media. People are able to have different views without being 'bad people'. Not everyone who believes A will necessarily believe B, and even if they did, they are entitled to do so in a democracy.

I have friends who vote in all directions, and they are still friends. I discuss politics with some and not others, but that's also true of people whose views I generally share. There are plenty of other points of connection, so I really don't understand why politics is seen as so character-defining.

It's probably no surprise that I didn't share AW's political views, and I wasn't a great fan of the way she expressed them either, but there will have been more to her than that. All we saw was what she chose to share, which was very little compared to a lot of public figures.

She was witty in TV interviews, and I admired the way she refused to be drawn about her private life, and 'periphoral' issues such as what she watched on TV - she was there as a politician and stuck to the point she was being paid to deliver. I didn't usually agree with that point, but her style was better (IMO) than that of many others who skirt around the issues.

Anyway, IMO this is not the time for people to use her murder as a reason to sling insults at those whose views they don't share, from whichever direction.

Politics being used as a definition of character is a relatively new thing, last decade or so I would say.

This is the latest message from Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman

I want to start with expressing my thanks to the local community and to the people who have come forward so far with their information.

We have been working at pace on this investigation.

Officers are making progress and are pursuing a number of lines of enquiry.

At this time we have made the active decision not to release further information, including descriptions of any potential suspects or releasing CCTV footage.

Releasing such information prematurely could compromise ongoing enquiries and may prejudice future investigative opportunities.

The decision not to disclose further details at this time is made on an operational basis. We will release information to the public when it is appropriate and necessary, in order to support the investigation.

I would ask the public again, please do not to speculate on social media.

If you have any relevant information and have not yet reported, please do so via the major incident public portal.

Our thoughts remain with Ann Widdecombe’s family and friends at this sad time. They continue to be supported by specialist officers.

We will provide updates as and when we are able to and thank you for your patience.

MartavTaurus

Thank you and that statement makes complete sense.

Does anyone remember the ITV 2007 programme "Ann Widdecombe v The Hoodies"?

I watched it and remember it made an impression, but it was so long ago, I had to Google the information.

The Premise: The documentary focused on "Asbo Britain," anti-social behaviour, and the lives of teenagers living on inner-city housing estates.

The Setup: Ann Widdecombe spent a week living directly with families on two of London's most high-profile council estates: the Andover Estate in Islington and the Myatts Field Estate in Brixton.

What I do remember, is that we saw another 'side' to Miss Widdecombe - as this resume confirms.

" While she famously began the programme with her characteristically abrasive, tough-on-crime stance—clashing with groups in stairwells and demanding to know why they hid under hoods—the narrative shifted. As she spent real time speaking one-on-one with the teenagers, she began to listen to their perspectives on fear, safety, and why they felt alienated. Viewers saw her softer, more maternal side emerge as she attempted to understand their lives and offer guidance."

That's not going to cut any ice with her detractors, obviously - however, politicians frequently opine on the issues surrounding the infamous 'asbo' possibly without understanding the complexities behind such deterrents.

Ann Widdecombe appeared to genuinely try to understand and, for that, I think she deserves some credit.

Considering the amount of Police Procedurals on TV I am amazed by the number of people on Facebook who seem to have no idea how a police investigation works. They seem to think that the pathologist can walk into a crime scene, say "Yes, it's murder" and within half an hour the perpetrator will be locked up.

We had a similar situation with my son's ex when her mother was found dead. Admittedly it was in Hungary but I think the procedure is similar. Her mother was found dead in the bathroom, there was a lot of blood, and it was thought that she had slipped and banged her head on the shower. It took a couple of days and a post mortem to find that she had had a fatal heart attack and banged her head as she collapsed. You can't always tell just by looking.

That's true, Deedaa, and something I've just remembered is that AW was on a TV programme about Victorian values or similar (it's available on YouTube). She and a team of celebrities lived as Victorian Poor, with the employment laws (or lack of them) that prevailed at the time. She was one of the more vocal members - almost a union official - arguing for fair treatment of the workers. I'm not certain, but I think they may have ended up in a workhouse at some point, and she continued arguing in there.

Obviously it wasn't real, but it did show that she's not as heartless as she could sometimes come across.

On the news just now. 28 year old arrested in Yorkshire.

Nightsky2

On the news just now. 28 year old arrested in Yorkshire.

Yorkshire ?? That's a long way away for an opportunist or even a preplanning thief to travel. What would such a person be doing in a fairly remote village in Devon?
This gets horribler and horribler.
RIP Anne.
Let's hope , at least , that they've got him now.

Labradora, they may live in Devon but have family or friends in Yorkshire to whom they've fled in order to lie low.

Obviously just speculation on my part but a possibility nonetheless.

Yes, Man, 28, arrested in South Yorkshire on suspicion of murder following death of Ann Widdecombe

LBC link here:

www.lbc.co.uk/article/man-arrested-suspicion-murder-ann-widdecombe-5HjddT4_2/

Doodledog

That's true, Deedaa, and something I've just remembered is that AW was on a TV programme about Victorian values or similar (it's available on YouTube). She and a team of celebrities lived as Victorian Poor, with the employment laws (or lack of them) that prevailed at the time. She was one of the more vocal members - almost a union official - arguing for fair treatment of the workers. I'm not certain, but I think they may have ended up in a workhouse at some point, and she continued arguing in there.

Obviously it wasn't real, but it did show that she's not as heartless as she could sometimes come across.

She was in a programme that featured Southwell Workhouse which is a National Trust property.

Primrose53

Wyllow3

On the 6pm R4 news they repeated what the police are saying after the the release of the man they arrested.

They are still looking for a white male and still clear it was not a political or terrorist perpetrator

They have clearly information they have not released: and it obviously cannot be released as to how.

Your highlighted sentence may no longer be correct according to FB. I hope they catch him asap.

I agree Primrose.
Devon and Cornwall Police were saying there was no political involvement initially, but that has now been omitted, there is still no information to suggest that this is a terrorism related incident and as a force we retain primacy of the investigation.
We don’t know.

There has been no mention of burglary.

When prisons minister, AW visited every prison in the country. A friend who was a prison governor showed AW round her prison. She didn’t share AW politics but enjoyed their time together. She remembers AW as feisty, interested and dedicated

From reading comments on here, AW certainly got herself around. I remember she was guest speaker at one of our Independent Schools conferences. Very witty and down to earth, having a laugh afterwards. The type of person who left an impression on you.

How on earth is Farage involved?

MayBee70

Doodledog

That's true, Deedaa, and something I've just remembered is that AW was on a TV programme about Victorian values or similar (it's available on YouTube). She and a team of celebrities lived as Victorian Poor, with the employment laws (or lack of them) that prevailed at the time. She was one of the more vocal members - almost a union official - arguing for fair treatment of the workers. I'm not certain, but I think they may have ended up in a workhouse at some point, and she continued arguing in there.

Obviously it wasn't real, but it did show that she's not as heartless as she could sometimes come across.

She was in a programme that featured Southwell Workhouse which is a National Trust property.

The one I'm thinking of was a short series (3 or 4 episodes) and was one of those 'lived history' things that were in fashion ten or so years ago. Is that what you are remembering?

greyfur

How on earth is Farage involved?

You need to look at AW's return to politics from around 2019 onwards when she was heavily involved with Farage's party and represented the South West.
Politics aside, perhaps Farage was/is grateful for her support and is paying his respects. Her family obviously had no objections.

MartavTaurus

greyfur

How on earth is Farage involved?

You need to look at AW's return to politics from around 2019 onwards when she was heavily involved with Farage's party and represented the South West.
Politics aside, perhaps Farage was/is grateful for her support and is paying his respects. Her family obviously had no objections.

I was referring to the idea that he had information relating to her murder.

This…

greyfur

MartavTaurus

greyfur

How on earth is Farage involved?

You need to look at AW's return to politics from around 2019 onwards when she was heavily involved with Farage's party and represented the South West.
Politics aside, perhaps Farage was/is grateful for her support and is paying his respects. Her family obviously had no objections.

I was referring to the idea that he had information relating to her murder.

For once leave your dislike of him out of it. He is very upset about her murder. She supported his party and they canvassed together. He knew her. He is very angry about what has happened to her. He went to lay a wreath for her. If another politician had done that, as they all do, it would be seen as appropriate. He has been liaising with the police. He had obviously talked to locals.

For once, cut it out.

And no, I’m not a Nigel Farage voter.