£26,000 cost of policing career criminal’s funeral

The funeral of Henry Vincent, who was killed while burgling a pensioner’s home, cost £26,000 to police.

The Metropolitan Police sent at least 30 officers to the event which descended into violence in south-east London on Thursday when journalists were hit with eggs and stones.

Police officers are also believed to have been deployed later into the night, just in case of any violence during the wake.

Vincent, 37, who was carrying a screwdriver, died outside the home of Richard Osborn-brooks, 78, and his wife, Maureen, 76, on April 4 in Hither Green, Lewisham, after he and an accomplice had broken into the house.