UK Editor @BBCNews RTS Home News Coverage of the year 2017/2022/2026 Orwell Prize for Exposing Britain’s Social Evils. ed.thomas@bbc.co.uk
Joined June 2009
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10 Apr 2025
NEW - we’ve had exclusive access to police raids on high street barber shops and mini marts across England.
The @NCA_UK suspect some are linked to organised crime gangs.
The BBC found the majority were staffed by Kurds from Iraq and iran - some working here illegally.
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Jun 11
A High Street mini mart worker who groomed and raped children has been jailed.
Iraqi asylum seeker Bawan Harwe exploited underage girls as young as 12 with vapes and alcohol.
Co-worker Sharam Muhamadi helped organise the abuse. He’s now on the run. bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd6e…
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Jun 10
IMPACT Illegal mini-marts and Vape shops to shut for up to 12 months under law change prompted by our BBC reporting.
For 18 months, on High Streets across the UK our investigations exposed drug gangs, child sexual exploitation and money laundering.
bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cqj1…
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Jun 8
How our High Streets became a window on our political instability… bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cq5p…
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Ed Thomas retweeted
Jun 2
Nigel Farage says 'the rights and privileges of white people matter less than those of ethnic minorities' after bodycam footage showed police speaking to the man who murdered Henry Nowak whilst officers handcuffed his victim.
Cabinet minister Nick Thomas Symonds is asked whether he agrees with the Reform UK leader.
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Jun 2
Henry Nowak “did not die with dignity” says family as police bodycam footage is released.
The murdered teenager’s family said they will carry their grief "every single day" for the rest of their lives. bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c62e…
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May 23
Government spends 25 times more on benefits than jobs for young people. bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crrp…
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May 21
🚨UK immigration and emigration - a closer look at the numbers👇🏻
The ONS provisionally estimates
🚨642,000people left the UK to live in another country long term during the year ending in December 2025.
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Ed Thomas retweeted
May 21
UK net migration fell to 171,000 last year, latest figures show, the lowest level since Covid pandemic
bbc.in/4dB6NuG
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May 20
A new £30m High Street organised crime unit has been announced by the government after the BBC's year-long investigative reporting into illegal mini-marts, vape shops and barbers.
The PM has pledged to end the High Street crime gangs.
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Ed Thomas retweeted
May 19
Burnham confirmed as Labour candidate in Makerfield bbc.in/4v1djCo
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May 19
REACTION from the Prime Minister - a pledge to close down shop fronts and drive crime off High Streets.
For too long, organised criminals have exploited our high streets to launder their dirty money.
Not anymore.
We will shut these shop fronts down and drive crime off our high streets to protect communities and legitimate businesses.
ALT An announcement image by 10 Downing Street reading 'We are targeting dodgy shops nationwide. £30m crackdown, raids, and cash seizures on organised gangs.' With imagery of Prime Minister Keir Starmer and police.
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May 19
STATEMENT from the Home Secretary on High Street crime gangs - after we exposed an organised immigration crime network she told us she wouldn’t stand for it.
Criminal gangs have exploited our high streets to launder their dirty money and undercut honest businesses.
We're hitting back with a nationwide crackdown to shut these fronts down, seize dirty cash, drive organised crime off our high streets and put bosses behind bars.
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Ed Thomas retweeted
May 18
New High Street crime unit to target gangs fronting shops after BBC investigation bbc.in/4wxVrAF
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May 19
“You’ve shone a light, this is an important moment.”
NEW after our year long investigative reporting - a £30m High Street organised crime unit’s been announced to target illegal mini-marts/vape shops.
During 12 months BBC News exposed
🚨drug gangs
🚨child sexual exploitation
🚨immigration crime
Reaction from Security Minister @DanJarvisMBE and a pledge to review laws
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May 19
IMPACT - a new £30m High Street organised crime unit’s been announced after our investigative reporting into illegal mini-marts/vape shops.
On our High Streets BBC News exposed
🚨drug gangs
🚨child sexual exploitation
🚨immigration crime
🚨tax evasion bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce3p…
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May 18
LIVE Starmer 'fights on', says deputy PM, as he says Labour must unite to contest by-election bbc.co.uk/news/live/crlp25pr…
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May 18
The High street shops facilitating immigration crime and the small boats crisis. bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c626…
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May 16
Tens of thousands of protesters have descended on London for two rival marches
- the Unite the Kingdom rally, organised by far-right figure Tommy Robinson.
- and a pro-Palestinian demonstration.
More than 4,000 police officers have been deployed. bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3d2…
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May 15
NEW Andy Burnham is allowed to run in the candidate selection process for the Makerfield by-election, Labour says
The constituency's current MP is stepping down - with polling expert John Curtice saying the Manchester mayor faces a "formidable challenge" bbc.co.uk/news/live/cwy21gpr…
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May 15
A day of two towns.
First Bootle..... form "they're all traitors" to “stick with Starmer" and "I just want hope."
Reaction on Merseyside to a day of political drama in a constituency that represents what was the heart of the Labour movement.
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May 15
And then off to Makerfield....we heard reaction from "we are Team Burnham".....to “anyone but Labour.”
This is Labour territory seeing a surge in Reform voters.
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