Kidnappers snatch victim a day in London

BRITAIN - Kidnappers are snatching a victim in London on average every day, with some gangs demanding hundreds of thousands of pounds in ransom, Scotland Yard said.

The criminals, many from Eastern European countries, frequently use extreme levels of violence.

Last year a total of 358 kidnaps were reported to the Metropolitan Police, with dozens more going undetected.

The Met's kidnap unit was alerted to 55 of the on-going incidents and in every case managed to free the hostage, often after raiding the gang's hideout.

In most kidnaps, however, a ransom is paid or the victim escapes before the police hear about it.

Most of the kidnappers are escaping prosecution partly because many of their victims are fellow criminals and refuse to co-operate with the police.

Scotland Yard are seeking a change in the law to allow evidence from the victims, even if they refuse to give their permission.

The Metropolitan Police are currently discussing with the Home Office and Crown Prosecution Service about adopting a similar system to that used in cases of domestic violence, where the perpetrator can be taken to court without the victim's support.

A third of kidnaps are linked to drugs, another third are criminally motivated, while a fifth involve human trafficking.

Half of all cases involve foreign nationals, with the Chinese, Afro-Caribbean, Eastern European and South Asian communities the four international communities where it mainly occurs.

A growing number of cases involve kidnaps taking place in London with the ransom demand made to the families of the victim abroad.

In the four years since the Met's kidnap unit began its work, ransom demands have ranged from as much as £500,000 to as little as £200.

Completely random kidnappings of innocent members of the public are still very rare, but police revealed they dealt with five such cases last year.

Detective Chief Superintendent Sharon Kerr, who is in overall command of the Met's kidnap unit, said: "We are seeing changes in tactics where they are prepared to use high levels of violence rather than drag it out."

She continued: "We are seeing more and more complicated investigations with international aspects to them.

"Currently only around 20 per cent of cases in London result in a successful prosecution."

- INDEPENDENT