London Crime Briefing
Significant incidents, hearings, outcomes and public-data changes across the capital.
Area
12 stories from and about Havering, mostly community safety, policing, crime data. The most recent ran on 14 September 2026.
Havering Council is seeking public views on expanding a Public Spaces Protection Order to cover the entire borough. The proposed order would grant officers powers to issue £100 on-the-spot fines for various anti-social behaviours, with potential court fines of £1,000 for non-payment.
Reform UK must leverage its control of Havering Council to demonstrate competence and stability to Londoners, according to Assembly Member Alex Wilson. The party secured 39 out of 55 seats in the borough, its first council leadership in the capital.
Havering Council is consulting residents on expanding a public space protection order to cover the entire borough. The proposed order would allow officers to issue £100 fines for a range of anti-social behaviours, including public drinking, aggressive begging, and the misuse of e-scooters.

Havering Council is preparing to use 'step-in' powers to implement a £300,000 temporary solution at the 'Rainham volcano' waste site. The move follows an eight-year dispute with landowner Jerry O'Donovan over remediation efforts.

Charlie Stefano, 33, of Dagenham, was sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court for intentional strangulation and actual bodily harm. The attack on 13 February involved kicking, dragging, and phone destruction. Kent Police responded after the victim fled to a Chatham petrol station.

A national emergency alert warning of wildfire risks on 14 August 2026 triggered loud alarms on hidden phones used by domestic abuse survivors, charities say. Women’s Aid and Hourglass criticised the lack of prior consultation, while the government defended the alert as necessary amid 43 UK wildfires that day.

The Metropolitan Police have launched a fresh appeal to locate Suzanne Lawrence, who vanished aged 14 in July 1979 after leaving her Harold Hill home. Her sister Michelle Hooper has made a public plea for information, as detectives seek witnesses from the Highbury squat where the girls stayed.
Borough-wide and national stories that name Havering or bear directly on it.
Waltham Forest Council has been criticised by London Assembly members for its decision not to cooperate with Home Office immigration raids. The council stated it is committed to being a 'borough of sanctuary' and protecting vulnerable people.
Barnet borough councils recorded 11 complaints regarding non-surgical cosmetic procedures between January 2021 and May 2026. This data, gathered through Freedom of Information requests, highlights a wider trend of patient concerns across London, including allegations of injury and infection.

Waltham Forest Council will begin contributing to the salaries of Metropolitan Police coroner officers from the 2028/29 financial year as part of a new agreement. The Met faces a significant budget deficit, necessitating a shift in funding for the service which supports families dealing with unexpected deaths.

Newham recorded the highest number of criminal offences in east London in July 2026, with 3,759 reports. Theft led the crime types, while Barking and Dagenham had the fewest cases. Police data shows a rise in crime across most boroughs compared to June.

Newham reported 20,924 criminal offences in the first six months of 2026, the highest among east London boroughs. Theft was the most common crime, with 6,489 cases, while violence against the person dominated in Redbridge and other boroughs.
Significant incidents, hearings, outcomes and public-data changes across the capital.