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Missing father's body found in Leicester canal

The body of an Indian man, who was missing for weeks, has been recovered from a canal in the city of Leicester, police said.

Paresh Patel, 48, had been last seen walking along Belgrave Road in the heart of Leicester on November 10.


Leicestershire Police said that they are not treating the death as suspicious.

"The man has been formally identified as 48-year-old Paresh who was last seen on the evening of Saturday November 10 when he left his home address. A post-mortem examination has been conducted. Further tests are being carried out. The death is not being treated as suspicious," Leicestershire Police said in a statement.

Patel's worried family had led the search for him, with his wife Kalpana issuing an emotional video message to urge him to return home.

Their sons, 12-year-old Kiyan and nine-year-old Harshal, also led a walk retracing the steps of their father while carrying a banner reading "Come Home Daddy".

Around 500 members of the local community had joined in with the family to retrace Patel's steps, Leicester Mercury reported.

Following the confirmation by the Leicestershire police, Patel's family issued a statement thanking the authorities.

"It is with the heaviest of hearts that we inform you that our Son, Husband, Father, Brother, Nephew, Cousin & Friend: Paresh has been taken from us. We wanted to thank you all with everything that we have, for every single moment of your time, that you gave to us, to help us find Paz," the family said in a statement.

Leicestershire Police had deployed extra resources to visit local residents and businesses and hand out thousands of leaflets and posters as part of the search operation.

An inquest is likely to be opened into Patel’s death, which will establish the cause and circumstances surrounding his death.

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London tourist levy

The capital recorded 89 m overnight stays in 2024

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London to introduce tourist levy that could raise £240 million a year

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Highlights

  • Government expected to give London powers to bring in a tourist levy on overnight stays.
  • GLA study says a £1 fee could raise £91m, a 5 per cent charge could generate £240m annually.
  • Research suggests London would not see a major fall in visitor numbers if levy introduced.
The mayor of London has welcomed reports that he will soon be allowed to introduce a tourist levy on overnight visitors, with new analysis outlining how a charge could work in the capital.
Early estimates suggest a London levy could raise as much as £240 m every year. The capital recorded 89 m overnight stays in 2024.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is expected to give Sadiq Khan and other English city leaders the power to impose such a levy through the upcoming English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill. London currently cannot set its own tourist tax, making England the only G7 nation where national government blocks local authorities from doing so.

A spokesperson for the mayor said City Hall supported the idea in principle, adding “The Mayor has been clear that a modest tourist levy, similar to other international cities, would boost our economy, deliver growth and help cement London’s reputation as a global tourism and business destination.”

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