Summary

  • A serious case review into the death of Alexa-Marie Quinn at the hands of her father has concluded there was a lack of understanding about potential risks

  • More than 1,000 people from the three counties are on the run after skipping bail

  • Review published into how Alexa-Marie Quinn, 4, was put into the care of her father, who then beat her to death

  • Bedfordshire Police defends decision not to sack anyone over the death of a man in custody

  • Updates for Wednesday, 11 May 2016

  1. Goodbyepublished at 18:04 BST 11 May 2016

    Alex Pope
    BBC Local Live

    That's it from all of us here working on the Local Live feed for Beds, Herts and Bucks.

    We'll be back from 08:00 on Thursday morning with all your news, sport, travel and weather. 

    In the meantime if you have a story you want to share while we're away please send us an email.

  2. Woods searched in missing mother huntpublished at 18:04 BST 11 May 2016

    We've just had these photographs sent in by BBC 3CR reporter Paul Scoins. They show specialist police search teams with dogs scouring woods for missing mother of three Natalie Hemming.

    Police searching woods

    They searched an area around Salden Wood near Newton Longville, Bucks and a disused rail line, which are near the family home on the edge of Milton Keynes.

    Her partner has been charged with her murder.

    Police officer with dog
  3. Woods being searched in Natalie Hemming casepublished at 17:50 BST 11 May 2016

    Paul Scoins
    BBC Three Counties Radio political reporter

    I'm at the entrance to Salden Woods close to Newton Longville, where the police are currently searching the area. 

    Entrance to Salden Wood

    It's part of ongoing investigations into the disappearance of Natalie Hemming, from Newton Leys, who hasn't been seen for ten days. 

    Natalie's partner Paul Hemming, 42, of Alderney Avenue, Milton Keynes, has been charged with her murder. 

  4. Weather: Dry night expected the clear spellspublished at 17:48 BST 11 May 2016

    Alex Dolan
    BBC Look East weather

    Any isolated showers will quickly ease through this evening, leaving the night largely dry with clear spells. 

    However, we may have the odd shower passing westwards during the early hours. 

    Minimum Temperature: 10C (50F). 

    StokenchurchImage source, Chilternman/Weather Watcher

    On Thursday it will be a fine and dry day with sunny spells. It's likely to be the last day with a warm, humid feel before it turns colder by the end of the week. 

  5. Travel: M11 closure causing problems on Beds and Herts roadspublished at 17:46 BST 11 May 2016

    BBC Travel

    The closure of the M11 northbound between J8, A120 (Bishops Stortford) and J9, A11 Saffron Walden, because of an earlier lorry fire is causing delays on surrounding roads in Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire. 

    The Northbound A1m between J5 at Welwyn Garden City and J7 at Stevenage is slow and all approaches to the Blackcat roundabout are congested. 

  6. 'Purrfect' place for Police petpublished at 17:35 BST 11 May 2016

    Sally Chidzoy
    BBC Look East home affairs correspondent

    It looks like Bedfordshire police has a new PC on the books! 

    This is Police Cat Bobby who lives locally and pops into the reception at their headquarters in Kempston on a daily basis. 

    Bobby the Police Cat

    He likes hanging around reception mainly because he gets lots of attention!

  7. Investigation under way into Bedford deathpublished at 17:26 BST 11 May 2016

    The Independent Police Complaints Commission has confirmed it has started an investigation into the death of a man on Midland Road in Bedford just after noon. 

    It says it can't provide anymore information but would like any witnesses to contact their investigators via witness@ipcc.gsi.gov.uk or 0800 0969070.

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  8. Missing Helen Bailey: How you can help?published at 17:19 BST 11 May 2016

    Katy Lewis
    BBC Local Live

    Officers searching for missing Hertfordshire author Helen Bailey have thanked the public for their help.

    She was last seen walking her miniature dachshund Boris near her home in Royston on 11 April. Hertfordshire Police have said there's no evidence to say she has left the North Herts area, but she also has links to Broadstairs in Kent and Northumberland. 

    If people want to help they should

    • Check any out buildings and sheds for signs someone may have been there
    • Keep an out eye for Helen and/or Boris in the Royston area
    • Report any possible sightings since 11 April
    • Call police if you work at a B&B or hotel and believe Helen has stayed with you
  9. Travel: Delays on Northbound M1 by Newport Pagnell services and Stevenagepublished at 17:09 BST 11 May 2016

    BBC Travel

    One lane is blocked on the M1 northbound between Newport Pagnell Services and J15 because of a broken down car.

    There are delays on the Northbound M1 from J5 at Watford through J6a M25 and J7, because of an earlier accident.

  10. Five due in court for people smugglingpublished at 17:08 BST 11 May 2016

    Simon Oxley
    BBC Three Counties Radio

    Five people, including four from Bedfordshire, are due to appear in court today, external charged with smuggling illegal immigrants into the UK.

    Two are from Luton, and two are from Houghton Regis. They're expected at Stevenage Magistrates' Court.

    Police say a total of 16 Albanian nationals were detained and deported as part of the investigation.

  11. Man robbed in Bedford High Streetpublished at 17:00 BST 11 May 2016

    Alex Pope
    BBC Local Live

    A man has been left with serious injuries after being robbed on Bedford High Street at 09:30 on Sunday morning.

    Bedfordshire Police say he approached two arguing women and tried to intervene. He was then assaulted by a man and knocked to the ground. He later realised his wallet had been stolen.

  12. Alexa-Marie Quinn murder: NPCC blasts 'damning' reportpublished at 16:53 BST 11 May 2016

    The NSPCC has responded to the "damning" report into the death of four-year-old Alexa-Marie Quinn.

    They say it reveals a catalogue of failures and missed opportunities in the months leading up to her death.

    Alexa-Marie QuinnImage source, John O'Reilly

    “It is hard to understand how it was decided she should live with her father permanently despite allegations of domestic violence and concerns over his behaviour," a charity spokesman said.

    “Such a complex case required close working between agencies across area boundaries – and this was severely lacking."

  13. Outgoing Beds PCC would be 'shocked' if force got more funds based on politicspublished at 16:52 BST 11 May 2016

    Simon Oxley
    BBC Three Counties Radio

    The outgoing Bedfordshire police and crime commissioner says it would be "shocking" if his successor was given extra-funding on the basis of her political party.

    Olly MartinsImage source, Bedfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner

    Labour's Olly Martins - who steps down today - was responding to comments by Conservative successor Kathryn Holloway that she's been promised more money by the government. Last year he lost a referendum which asked the public if they would accept a council tax rise to fund more police.

    He said: "I think a lot of people would find it pretty shocking if a police force's funding was dependent on the party political persuasion of the police and crime commissioner."

  14. Nearly 400 outstanding arrest warrants in Hertfordshirepublished at 16:36 BST 11 May 2016

    Craig Lewis
    BBC News

    There are currently 387 outstanding arrest warrants in Hertfordshire.

    Suspected criminals wanted in HertfordshireImage source, Hertfordshire Police

    Freedom of Information request from the BBC showed police are pursuing suspects and convicted criminals who skipped court bail on charges including grievous bodily harm, indecent child images, robbery and arson.

    They are among more than 13,000 people in England who are on the run.

  15. Quique Sanchez Flores: 'Responsibility is to win' against Norwichpublished at 16:30 BST 11 May 2016

    BBC Sport

    Watford play their final away match of the Premier League season tonight with no fresh injury problems as they travel to relegation threatened Norwich.

    Quique Sanchez FloresImage source, Getty Images

    Hornets boss Quique Sanchez Flores has said playing against those fighting the drop is "always very sad," but they have a "role and need to play it".

    He said: "For us it will be important to go to the pitch with the idea to play well, to think about how we can stop Norwich, to play football and to score goals."

  16. Police to search woods for missing MK motherpublished at 16:04 BST 11 May 2016

    Paul Scoins
    BBC Three Counties Radio political reporter

    Police investigating the suspected murder of a woman from Milton Keynes have begun searching Salden Wood near Newton Longville. 

    Natalie HemmingImage source, South Beds News

    Paul Hemming, from Newton Leys, has been charged with murdering his partner Natalie Hemming. 

    The 31-year-old mother of three hasn't been seen for ten days.

  17. Missing Helen Bailey: Case is 'very perplexing'published at 15:58 BST 11 May 2016

    Kate Bradbrook
    BBC Look East

    The police officer in charge of the search for missing Hertfordshire author Helen Bailey has said what makes the case "very, very perplexing" is that they have very little to work on. 

    The 51-year-old has left no digital footprint - records show she hasn't used her phone or accessed her bank account.

    Chief inspector Julie WheatleyImage source, South Beds News Agency

    Chief inspector Julie Wheatley said she didn't want to speculate on whether the disappearance was pre-planned as there was very little evidence to show whether this was the case or if it was spontaneous.

    She said: "It's everyone's right to a private life. If Helen has decided she wanted some time to herself, we respect that - we're just concerned and her family are very concerned."

  18. Police watchdog to investigate death in Bedfordpublished at 15:38 BST 11 May 2016

    Alex Pope
    BBC Local Live

    Bedfordshire Police have confirmed that the death of a man in the centre of Bedford today is to be reported to the Independent Police Complaints Commission. 

    They say officers gave the man first aid and the ambulance service also attended at about 12:35 on Midland Road, but the man died. 

    Police have refused to release any further details.

  19. Bedford death to be reported to police watchdogpublished at 15:27 BST 11 May 2016
    Breaking

    The death of a man in a street in Bedford is being reported to the police watchdog. 

  20. West Ham's Mark Noble tackles Houghton Regis regenerationpublished at 15:20 BST 11 May 2016

    West Ham's Mark Noble was challenged to show off his football skills in front of pupils at Houghton Regis Academy this afternoon. 

    He's in the area along with Bobby Zamora talk to young people about plans to regenerate the Kingsland site in Houghton Regis. 

    Noble is one of the founders of Legacy, which hopes to build a sports academy with education and community facilities. 

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