Suzy Lamplugh was a 25-year-old Estate Agent who disappeared on Monday 28 July 1986 in Fulham, West London.
No trace of her has been found since. She was declared dead in absentia, presumed murdered, in 1993. Metropolitan Police investigation into her disappearance remains open as of July 2026 but is scheduled to move to an inactive phase within approximately 12 months. 
Susannah Jane Lamplugh was born on 3 May 1961 in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.
At the time of her disappearance she worked as a negotiator for Sturgis (also referred to as Sturgis & Sons) Estate Agents at premises on Fulham Road. She lived in a flat in Putney. 
On the morning of Monday 28 July 1986 she left the office at approximately 12:30 - 12:40 to meet a client recorded in her appointments diary as "Mr. Kipper" at 12:45 outside 37 Shorrolds Road, Fulham.
The entry, read: "12.45 Mr Kipper – 37 Shorrolds O/S". Witnesses reported seeing a woman matching her description at or near the gateway of the property around 12:50. Further accounts described her with a smartly dressed white male, aged approximately between 25 and 30, of dark complexion with dark hair swept back, possibly with a broken nose, wearing a dark charcoal suit and holding a bottle of champagne with ribbons. One witness reported seeing the pair leaving the house and looking back; another reported them entering a car. 
Additional reported sightings later that afternoon included a woman matching Suzy Lamplugh's description driving a white Ford Fiesta erratically, arguing with a male passenger in a dark left-hand-drive BMW near Craven Cottage on Stevenage Road, and with a man on Fulham Palace Road at about 14:45.
Her company car, a white Ford Fiesta registration B396 GAN, was located at approximately 22:01 that evening outside 123 Stevenage Road, roughly one mile from Shorrolds Road and near another property being marketed by the Estate Agency that Suzy worked for.
The vehicle was unlocked, the handbrake was off, the driver's seat was pushed further back than Suzy Lamplugh normally used it, the keys (including those to the Shorrolds Road property) were missing, and her purse remained inside. Colleagues had become concerned by 15:30, checked the property, and reported her missing at approximately 17:30. Metropolitan Police began searching that evening. 
The initial investigation was one of the largest Missing-Person inquiries conducted by Metropolitan Police.
More than 26,000 Index Cards of tip-offs, witnesses and persons of interest were compiled and retained in a carousel filing system. The case remains the only Metropolitan Police inquiry still using this 1980s card-index system. Early searches of Lamplugh’s flat and interviews with associates, including her boyfriend, produced no significant leads. A PhotoFit (now called E-FIT) of the man described by witnesses was circulated. Red roses had been delivered to the office by an unidentified man in the days before the disappearance. Suzy Lamplugh had tinted her hair blonde a few days earlier. 
In 1993 she was declared dead in absentia, presumed murdered.
The case was reviewed and re-investigated in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Computerisation of the card index, further witness interviews following BBC Crimewatch reconstructions, and examination of links to other offences were undertaken. Multiple searches for remains were conducted over subsequent years, including land near Norton Barracks and Pershore in Worcestershire (2000, 2010 and 2019), a property in Sutton Coldfield associated with the family of a suspect (2018), stretches of Grand Union Canal (2014 and later), and other sites. None yielded evidence connected to Suzy Lamplugh. DNA testing was carried out on unidentified remains matching her general description; none matched. Mitochondrial DNA analysis of adhesive tape from the headrest of her car, performed in United States, produced no usable profile. A smudged fingerprint on the rear-view mirror remains unidentified. 
John Cannan (born 1954, died 6 November 2024) was named by Metropolitan Police as the prime suspect in 2002.
He had been released from HMP Wormwood Scrubs on 25 July 1986, three days before the disappearance, and was on day release working in the Fulham area. Circumstantial links cited by investigators included his presence in the locality, ownership of or access to a dark left-hand-drive BMW. John Cannan was known to be called "Kipper" due to his unusual liking for the fish and taking a "kip" (a nap). Furthermore, John Cannan was known to visit local wine bars and Estate Agents, and statements from people who knew him confirmed this. He was convicted in 1989 of the 1987 murder of Shirley Banks in Bristol (among other offences including rape and abduction) and received life sentences. 
Shirley Banks was a 29-year-old Factory Manager from the Bristol area of United Kingdom.
She was abducted by John Cannan on 8 October 1987, and was held by Cannan for approximately 18 hours before he murdered her. Her body was later discovered in Dead Woman’s Ditch on the Quantock Hills in Somerset. Shirley Banks owned and drove an orange Mini Clubman, which also disappeared around the time of her murder. Three weeks after her disappearance, Avon & Somerset Police searching John Cannan's black BMW found the Tax Disc from her Mini inside a briefcase in the glove compartment. 
The Mini Clubman itself was subsequently located in a lock-up garage belonging to a block of flats where Cannan lived (in Bristol/Leigh Woods area).
The car had been painted blue (in an amateur fashion) and fitted with false Number Plates reading SLP 386S - the original Number Plates read HWL 507N. The false Number Plates fitted to Shirley Banks' car included the sequence SLP 386S. 
Investigating Officers interpreted the Number Plate as a possible deliberate reference to Suzy Lamplugh:
Other characteristics of the Number Plate Avon & Somerset Police, later Metropolitan Police, examined whether “386” related to a map reference. Shirley Banks' body was found near Northing Line 386, and Norton Manor Barracks (a site previously linked to Cannan) is near 3° 08′ 06″ West. Speculation over the four-decade-long case has pointed to other theories surrounding the "386:
John Cannan was arrested and interviewed in connection with Suzy Lamplugh’s disappearance in 2000 and 2001.
A file was submitted to Crown Prosecution Service in 2002. Crown Prosecution Service concluded there was insufficient evidence to charge him. No forensic evidence has been found that links him directly to Suzy Lamplugh. Other suspects examined over the years, including Michael Sams and Steve Wright, were eliminated. After John Cannan’s death in HMP Full Sutton, Prison Officers examined material from his cell and prison writings; no new evidence was identified. A forensic review of significant material in Suzy Lamplugh's case was completed in 2024 and produced no new DNA or fingerprint evidence.
Metropolitan Police continue to hold 178 boxes of notes and materials, approximately 3,000 files on their Home Office Large Major Enquiry System (HOLMES) system, and the original 26,000 Index Cards.
Detective Chief Inspector Teresa Foster of the cold-case homicide team is the Senior Investigating Officer. As of July 2026 the team is following up approximately 30 potential witness leads. Police Officers have stated that the priority remains the location of Suzy Lamplugh’s remains. The investigation is scheduled to move to an inactive phase in approximately 12 months (around July 2027). In the inactive phase new information will still be assessed and followed up, but the case will no longer be actively worked as a priority. Metropolitan Police have indicated that future advances in forensic science, Artificial Intelligence applied to case documentation, or information from individuals who may have relevant knowledge could still produce a resolution. The case is treated as an open murder investigation. 
Suzy Lamplugh’s parents, Paul and Diana Lamplugh, established Suzy Lamplugh Trust in December 1986.
The Trust continues to work on personal safety, stalking and related issues, including operation of National Stalking Helpline. Both parents are deceased (Diana in 2011, Paul in 2018). On the 40th anniversary of the disappearance, Suzy Lamplugh's siblings released previously unpublished family photographs and issued a statement through Suzy Lamplugh Trust. 
A witness known as "Dave" told Emilia Fox on Channel 4's documentary programme In The Footsteps Of Killers that at around 05:00 on 31 July 1986 he saw a man resembling John Cannan pushing a large suitcase or holdall on a trolley along the towpath of Grand Union Canal near Gallows Bridge in Brentford, West London; moments later he heard a splash and saw the man running away empty-handed.
The section of Grand Union Canal near Gallows Bridge in Brentford was searched by Metropolitan Police in September 2014 during the investigation into the murder of teenager Alice Gross (an unrelated case). Nothing connected to Suzy Lamplugh was found. 
In a Sky News report marking the 40th anniversary of Suzy Lamplugh's disappearance, crime correspondent Martin Brunt examines whether a long-overlooked witness account could yet help locate her remains.
Martin Brunt focuses on a key theory that Suzy Lamplugh's body may have been disposed of in a stretch of Grand Union Canal in west London, a few miles from where she was last seen in Fulham in July 1986. Martin Brunt revisits the claim of a man, later identified in other reports as "Dave", who said he saw someone resembling prime suspect John Cannan pushing a large suitcase or holdall on a trolley along the towpath near Gallows Bridge in Brentford in the early hours of 31 July 1986, followed by a splash. Although that section of canal was searched in 2014 during an unrelated investigation and yielded nothing connected to Suzy Lamplugh, the report considers whether further examination or new information might still prove useful. Martin Brunt also spoke to Suzy Lamplugh's sisters about their continuing hope of finding answers and of bringing their sister home, while noting Metropolitan Police's current plan to follow up around 30 potential witness leads before the case is expected to move to an inactive phase. The piece places the witness theory within the wider context of one of Britain’s most enduring unsolved missing-person investigations.
As of this time, no body has been recovered and no-one has been charged in connection with the disappearance.
TIMELINE OF EVENTS (IN BRIEF):
Metropolitan Police continue to request that anyone with information contact them.
Those with information can contact Metropolitan Police on 101, alternatively those who wish to remain anonymous can do so by giving details to CrimeStoppers on 0800 555 111. If you have been affected by issues raised in this article please contact Samaritans on 116123. 
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 Cumbria Police are investigating a racially aggravated actual bodily harm offence that took place in Barrow Park, Barrow, on Sunday 12 July 2026. The incident occurred at approximately 19:30. A local man was attacked with an item during the assault and lost consciousness. Derogatory language was used as part of the offence.  Barrow Park, near scene of crime The suspect is described as a white male aged in his mid to late teens, of slim build, with short dark hair. At the time of the incident he was not wearing a top and was dressed in jeans or shorts. He was riding a bicycle. Police Officers are working to identify and trace the individual responsible. The investigation is being carried out thoroughly. Cumbria Police have issued a reassurance to the local community that all appropriate lines of enquiry are being pursued. Anyone who witnessed the incident or has information that could assist is asked to contact Cumbria Constabulary. Reports can be submitted, quoting incident number 245 of 12 July 2026, by telephoning 101, or anonymously via CrimeStoppers on 0800 555 111.   A major fire broke out in the City Centre of Aberdeen this morning, triggering a large-scale emergency response that has now stretched into its eighth hour. Two people have been taken to a local Medical Facility, while several neighbouring properties were evacuated as thick black smoke continued to drift across the Granite City skyline.  The blaze was first reported to The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service shortly after 09:00 on Tuesday 07 April 2026. The incident began at a residential property on Summerfield Terrace, located close to the busy King Street thoroughfare. Within minutes, dramatic plumes of smoke were visible from across the city, with aerial footage captured showing flames appearing to originate in the roof space of a traditional granite terrace building before spreading rapidly.  Emergency Services responded swiftly. Six fire appliances, supported by specialist height and aerial vehicles, were dispatched to the scene. Firefighters have been working extensively from elevated platforms, attempting to tackle the blaze from above while simultaneously working to prevent it from spreading to adjacent homes in the densely built-up area.  The Scottish Ambulance Service also responded with urgency. The first ambulance resources arrived just six minutes after a 9-9-9 call, which was received at 09:12. In total, four ambulances attended the incident, alongside a special operations team and a critical care unit. Two patients were transported to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary for further evaluations, while a third individual was assessed and treated at the scene. At this stage, the precise nature and severity of the injuries have not been publicly disclosed.  Aberdeen Royal Infirmary Meanwhile, Police Officers from Police Scotland moved quickly to secure the area. Summerfield Terrace was closed to all traffic and pedestrians, with police vehicles positioned to enforce a cordon. Officers also assisted in evacuating residents from several nearby properties as a precautionary measure.  Eyewitnesses have described the unfolding events as "terrifying". One local resident, Ezze Adil, who is eight months pregnant, said that she was forced to flee her home with nothing but the clothes she was wearing after noticing a heavy police presence in the neighbourhood. Other residents reported being woken by a strong, acrid smell, likened to burning rubber, and said they had received no prior warning before the situation escalated.  Amid the disruption, there have been notable displays of community support. Nearby businesses have stepped in to assist those affected by the evacuation. Ian Lippe - landlord of The Saltoun Arms - has opened his premises to displaced residents, offering free tea, coffee, and a place to rest. The Saltoun Arms is located on Frederick Street, roughly a five minute walk from Summerfield Terrace. Mr. Lippe has confirmed with InformingBritain.com the following: "I am providing free teas and coffees for all of those affected, I am open until 00:00 tonight with the offer going throughout." If you CLICK HERE, to be given a GoogleMaps route from Summerfield Terrace in case you're unfamiliar with the area.  As of 14:12 (more than six hours after the first emergency call) firefighters and emergency personnel remained actively engaged at the scene. Live updates from local media indicate that crews are continuing efforts to bring the blaze under control, with operations ongoing well into the afternoon.  The cause of the fire has not yet been established. A full investigation is expected to begin once the fire is completely extinguished and the area has been declared safe for investigators to enter. At present, no arrests have been made in connection with the incident.   The fire has caused significant disruption in this busy residential and commercial part of the city. Road closures remain in place, and the heavy Emergency Service presence has impacted local traffic and daily routines throughout the area. Emergency services are continuing to urge members of the public to avoid Summerfield Terrace and the surrounding area while operations remain ongoing. Further updates are expected regarding the condition of those taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, as well as the findings of the official investigation into the origin of the fire. A spokesperson for Police Scotland has confirmed with InformingBritain.com the following: "The road has not re-opened as yet and our enquiries are ongoing". InformingBritain.com have also contacted The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service for comment.  DORSET: TEENAGER ARRESTED FOLLOWING VEHICLE BREAK-INS IN SHERBORNE | INFORMING BRITAIN ON CRIME1/1/2026  Dorset Police have arrested a 14-year-old boy from Sherborne on suspicion of Criminal Damage after reports of aggressive behaviour and break-ins to parked vehicles. The disturbances took place at around 23:15 on Wednesday 31 December 2025, in the Littlefield area of Sherborne, with several cars sustaining damage. The suspect remains in custody as enquiries continue. Authorities are appealing for witnesses, potential victims, or anyone with relevant information, including doorbell camera recordings, to come forward. Contact can be made via the Dorset Police website or by calling 101, quoting Reference Number 55250191338. Alternatively, anonymous tips may be submitted to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.  Authorities have named a 15-year-old boy who succumbed to stab wounds following an incident in Islington earlier this week as Adam John Henry. It marks the second such loss of a young life in the borough just before Christmas in as many years, prompting heightened community support and police patrols.  Metropolitan Police officers were dispatched to Westbourne Road in Islington at 13:02 on Tuesday 09 December, after reports of a stabbing. Responding alongside the London Ambulance Service and London's Air Ambulance, emergency personnel provided immediate treatment for Adam's injuries at the scene. Despite exhaustive efforts, he was pronounced dead later in a local Medical Facility.  Adam's family, who are receiving support from specialist officers, released a poignant statement mourning their loss. Their statement, said: "Our beautiful son, Adam, was cruelly taken away from us on Tuesday afternoon, he was a loving son, brother, nephew, grandson, friend and we will never recover from the loss and not having him in our lives. "He had many interests and was always there with a smile and cheeky sense of humour. He was good natured and loyal. While only 15 years old, the beautiful memories we have of him can never be forgotten. "We ask for privacy as a family so we can grieve and try to process this senseless tragedy together. "We also request that as this is an active homicide investigation and a broken-hearted family and community, that you refrain from speculation and allow the police to do their job."  Chief Superintendent Jason Stewart, responsible for policing in Islington, extended condolences on behalf of the force. Chief Superintendent Stewart, said: "Our thoughts remain with Adam's family and loved ones and anyone in the local community who has been affected by Adam's tragic death. "This is the second time Islington has lost a young person just before Christmas in the last two years – we know the impact on the community is profound. "Additional police patrols are being deployed across the local area and at key times when children are travelling to and from school. Youth workers deployed by our partners at Islington council will also be on hand in the area to speak with local young people and offer support. We hope this goes some way to reassuring parents, who are understandably worried for their children's safety. "We encourage anyone with concerns or questions to approach officers at any time. "A crime scene remains in place across the estate today and into tomorrow while forensic work continues. "Our team of detectives and forensic specialists are working at pace to establish the events which led to Adam's murder. We'd ask any witnesses or anyone with information about the incident to please contact us as soon as possible."  The investigation remains active, with a crime scene still secured for forensic examination. Individuals with information are urged to contact police on 101, quoting reference CAD 3568/09DEC, or to provide information - anonymously - via CrimeStoppers on 0800 555 111.  Metropolitan Police detectives have initiated a murder investigation after a 15-year-old boy was fatally stabbed in the Islington area. The incident occurred at approximately 13:02 on Tuesday 09 December, when Police Officers were summoned to reports of a stabbing on Westbourne Road. Police attended the scene alongside personnel from the London Ambulance Service and London's Air Ambulance.  The teenage victim was treated at the location for a stab wound before being transported to a local Medical Facility. Despite the exhaustive efforts of medical staff, the teenager succumbed to his injuries later that afternoon. His family have been notified and are receiving support from specialist officers during this distressing period.  Chief Superintendent Jason Stewart, responsible for policing in the borough, expressed his condolences: "Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the victim at this incredibly sad and difficult time. We understand this is profoundly concerning for the community, particularly given the young age of the victim. "Officers are in the area conducting urgent enquiries, and cordons remain in place. I would urge anyone who witnessed the incident or possesses any relevant information to contact us, or to do so anonymously via CrimeStoppers."  A crime scene continues to be secured at Atlas Mews, Westbourne Road, and Arundel Square to facilitate ongoing investigations. Individuals with information that could assist Metropolitan Police are encouraged to call 101, quoting reference CAD 3568/09DEC. Alternatively, those who wish to remain anonymous can do so by contacting CrimeStoppers on 0800 555 111.   Devon and Cornwall Police are seeking to identify a man following a dog bite incident on the causeway to St. Michael’s Mount in Marazion. The event took place between 16:00 and 16:10 on Thursday 09 October 2025. A woman in her 50s was bitten on the leg by one of two dogs accompanying a man and a woman, resulting in injury. The police believe a male may assist with their enquiries. Information can be provided by contacting Devon and Cornwall Police on 101, quoting Reference Number: 50250262842. Alternatively, those who wish to remain anonymous can do so by providing details to CrimeStoppers on 0800555111. 
A 32-year-old man has been charged following a multiple stabbing incident on a train at Huntingdon Station in Cambridgeshire on Saturday 01 November 2025.
British Transport Police were called at 19:42 to reports of the stabbing on board the 18:25 train service.
A major incident was declared, with initial support from Counter Terrorism Policing, though no evidence of terrorism was found. 
The man, Anthony Williams of Langford Road, Peterborough, faces ten counts of Attempted Murder and one count of Actual Bodily Harm (ABH).
He was arrested and remains in Police Custody as the investigation continues. Network Rail have confirmed via Social Media that Huntingdon Station has reopened and trains are back operational.
The attack occurred on the 18:25 LNER service from Peterborough to Horsham.
At approximately 19:42, passengers reported a man stabbing multiple individuals onboard. The Train Driver, Andrew Johnson, diverted the service to an unscheduled stop at Huntingdon Station, facilitating rapid police intervention. Johnson, a driver of over 20 years with LNER and a former Royal Navy member, credited his colleagues for their bravery. Onboard, staff and passengers confronted the assailant, halting his progress. One crew member sustained grievous injuries and remains in critical but stable condition. Stephen Crean - a victim - described a confrontation where the attacker asked; "Do you want die?" before inflicting a sliced injury to his left hand. Scunthorpe United footballer Jonathan Gjoshe was slashed across the bicep. 
Hours prior, Williams was involved in a separate stabbing incident in London.
Cambridgeshire Police are examining connections to Peterborough events. Eleven people received treatment in a local Medical Facility. As of 19:03 GMT on 3 November: Five patients remain hospitalised: one in critical but stable condition, four stable.
A 19-year-old woman has been arrested and charged following a fatal Road Traffic Collision in Coatbridge. The incident involved a black Vauxhall Corsa and a pedestrian on Brambling Road around 17:20 on Saturday 09 November 2024.  The pedestrian - a 57-year-old woman - was taken to Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, where she was later pronounced dead. The charged woman will be reported to the Procurator Fiscal.  Police are seeking witnesses after a 19-year-old man sustained serious injuries in a hit-and-run collision in Port Glasgow. The incident occurred around 01:00 on Sunday 02 November 2025, on Ardmore Road near Selkirk Road, where the man was struck by a vehicle that did not stop. The car is described as a dark-coloured Vauxhall Insignia.  The injured man was transported by ambulance to Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow, where his condition is described as critical. Officers from the Road Policing Unit have indicated that the collision does not appear to have been targeted and that the man was walking home after an evening out in the area. They are urging the driver to come forward and are requesting dashcam footage from other vehicles or recordings from doorbell cameras in the residential area.  Enquiries are ongoing, and Ardmore Road remains closed. Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101, quoting incident number 0188 of Sunday 02 November 2025, or CrimeStoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. |
EDITOR-IN-CHIEFAndy Gibson for InformingBritain.com Archives
July 2026
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