Police launch an investigation into Ann Widdecombe death

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.

MartavTaurus

Thank you and that statement makes complete sense.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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>>

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!

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.

Luckygirl3

Indeed - including my sibling ... I am quite worried.

I had to smile when listening to so many broadcasters saying about this murder of a little old lady - I am pretty sure she would not have appreciated that description ......

They live very nearby and it certainly brought them up short - I can only hope that the perpetrator has put a distance between him and the scene of the crime.

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.

Luckygirl3

Indeed - including my sibling ... I am quite worried.

I had to smile when listening to so many broadcasters saying about this murder of a little old lady - I am pretty sure she would not have appreciated that description ......

Indeed - including my sibling ... I am quite worried.

I'd imagine there's a police presence in and around the area - especially as the investigation is now ongoing which will be a deterrent. The area is probably safer now than it was. But still unsettling.

Indeed - including my sibling ... I am quite worried.

I had to smile when listening to so many broadcasters saying about this murder of a little old lady - I am pretty sure she would not have appreciated that description ......

Kandinsky

*I wonder how they can say it wasn’t terror related or politically motivated, how would they know what the motivation was?*

Well exactly - they haven’t found the murderer yet so how do they know what the motive was?

I'd imagine that calculation was made at the time they thought they'd arrested the perpetrator, and were basing their conclusions on whatever was going on in the interview room at that time.

The police are under so much pressure now when such horrible crimes are committed.

Back in the day, they could focus on finding the criminal, now they have to be mindful of a distrusting public who can be quite cynical.

When so little is known, it must be quite frightening for other residents in and around that area.

I don’t think a woman should feel guilty about having an abortion if she feels it’s the best decision for her / and her family. Equally, not all women could cope with a Down’s syndrome child, which is why our NHS offer screening in early pregnancy, amino etc.
However, I feel the 24 week limit is far too late, but appreciate some conditionings are not picked up until the 20 week scan.

I didn’t agree with her views on abortion or gay rights but she was very honest in her views what you see is what you get sort of thing.

It sounds as if she was a loyal friend which is always admirable and nobody deserves to die in a violent way . I’m very sad for her

travelsafar

This has bought tears to my eyes.
Poor Anne she must have been so frightened and defenseless.
Breaks my heart to think this was the end of her life in such a violent way.😢😢😢

My sentiments exactly, regardless of any personal opinions. She was a lady living alone, as many are, enjoying her later life in the way she wished.
RIP Ann, you were always interesting in your thoughts and opinions.

Well yes because unlike the be kind warriors many gay people understand that people can hold all sorts of views and we can rub along.
Two of my closest friends believe TWAW, one knows my very different views and one I am sure has guessed them ( we don't discuss those kind of issues), we care for each other a great deal. It is how things used to be about 5 minutes ago before the world went a bit crazy.

TV presenter and journalist Andrew Pierce has written a very lengthy and emotional tribute to Ann who was a best friend for years. He is gay and is married to a man and even though Ann did not agree with either they still remained friends. He said she was a wonderful friend, like him a Catholic and they met regularly and she rang him all the time. He is heartbroken.

travelsafar

This has bought tears to my eyes.
Poor Anne she must have been so frightened and defenseless.
Breaks my heart to think this was the end of her life in such a violent way.😢😢😢

Quite. I agree with Fallingstar that this miserable ** needs taking off the streets asap.
I once saw Ann Widdacombe on the platform at Kings Cross St Pancras and I was astonished by how small she was.
They never pick on some strapping guy with tattoos on his tattoos do they ?
A fragile lady nearly 80 years old. Just the ticket .

Perhaps police ruled out political motivation because there were signs of robbery, drawers and cupboards open, that kind of thing, that could indicate robbery being the prime motive.
But one wonders why he didn’t just go , as an elderly woman was hardly posing a physical threat.

It sounds as though they have an idea of who it is, it’s finding him. And they don’t tell the public everything.

We've all seen too many police dramas. I suspect I'm not the only one who can imagine the stress the SIO is under. Many bad tempered meetings and pressure from on high.

The assistant chief constable said yesterday that they did not believe at this stage that the killing was politically motivated.
He did not rule it out.