London Crime Briefing
Significant incidents, hearings, outcomes and public-data changes across the capital.
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37 stories from and about Lewisham, mostly policing, courts, violent crime. The most recent ran on 14 September 2026. Page 1 of 2.
A man is on trial at the Old Bailey accused of murder after a victim of a 2006 assault died from an epileptic seizure more than 15 years later. Jordan Burton, 33, denies murder and faces an alternative charge of manslaughter.
Blackheath's annual fireworks display will expand to two days from 2027 after Lewisham Council's Licensing Sub-Committee approved the plans. Event organisers applied for a new licence to facilitate the change, which will see attendance potentially double.
Two friends who met while studying master's degrees in Scotland have denied murdering Taiwo Ekerin outside a Lewisham nightclub. Chibueze Chukwurah and Maxwell Uguanya pleaded not guilty to murder and manslaughter.
Michelle Neill has received a suspended prison sentence for the manslaughter of her sister Kelly Neill. Kelly died in October 2022 from sepsis caused by bed sores while under Michelle's care in appalling conditions. Paramedics found Kelly in unsanitary surroundings.
British Transport Police are seeking four additional victims and witnesses after a man allegedly attacked eight people at Hither Green station on August 20, 2020. Myles Miller has been charged with possession of a bladed article.

Lewisham Mayor Liam Shrivastava has passed his first 100 days in office, focusing on tackling fly-tipping, reviewing cooperation with immigration enforcement, and challenging London Mayor Sadiq Khan's housing policies. The council has also cleared thousands of fly-tips and issued fines.

A 50-year-old man from Lewisham has appeared in court charged with causing the death of Ghulan Malik. The incident occurred on Leyton High Road in September 2024, and the victim died more than a week later. The case will now proceed to Snaresbrook Crown Court.

Lewisham Council's decision to refuse a fifth betting shop in Catford has been overturned on appeal, citing the Gambling Act's 'aim to permit' rule. Local businesses and councillors express disappointment, highlighting concerns over the area's regeneration and safety.

A man was stabbed at New Cross Station on 19 August 2026 and rushed to a major trauma centre with potentially life-changing injuries. The station was temporarily closed while paramedics and British Transport Police attended the scene.

A stabbing at New Cross Overground station in Lewisham on 18 August left one person with severe injuries. Emergency services responded, disrupting Southeastern and Overground services for over two hours. Police are investigating and urging witnesses to come forward.

A person was stabbed at New Cross station in Lewisham on 18 August, suffering injuries described as potentially life-changing. British Transport Police are investigating and have urged anyone with information to come forward using reference 552 of 18 August.

Kevin Kelenda, convicted of murdering Tyrone Pinnock in Brent in October 2023, has failed in his appeal against conviction and sentence. Appeal judges upheld the life term with a 17-year minimum, rejecting claims that a live video link from prison denied him a fair trial.

A 25-year-old man was arrested and later released on bail after a woman was pronounced dead at a house on Conington Road, Lewisham, on 5 August 2026. Police are treating the death as unexpected and have scheduled a post-mortem examination.

An inquest jury found Metropolitan Police delays in responding to Catherine Morgan’s disappearance may have contributed to her suicide in Kent on 4 September 2024. The force’s application of national guidance was deemed 'overly rigid' by Senior Coroner Patricia Harding, who issued a prevention of future deaths report.

A coroner has written to the Metropolitan Police after an inquest found officers delayed deploying to search for Catherine Morgan by more than three and a half hours. The jury ruled the force’s handling of her case may have contributed to her death on 4 September 2024.

Thieves stole around 70 front badges and radar sensors from Volkswagen vehicles in Lewisham, Catford and surrounding areas between 15 and 19 July. Police confirmed 70 thefts and urged victims to report incidents as inquiries continue.

Around 70 Volkswagen vehicles had badges and radar sensors stolen in Lewisham, Catford, Forest Hill and nearby areas between 15 and 19 July. Police confirmed the investigation is ongoing and asked residents to report any further incidents or information.
PC Adam Sahel, 34, was found guilty of common assault at Southwark Crown Court on 5 August 2026 after spraying a junior colleague with PAVA spray at Catford police station in August 2023. He had previously been charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

A 28-year-old woman was declared dead at the scene in Connington Road, Lewisham, on 5 August 2026. Police arrested a 25-year-old man and are treating the death as unexpected. The investigation, led by Detective Inspector Steven Andrews, remains at an early stage.

Met Police arrested two suspects in their 40s after a robbery on Rushey Green, Catford. A man discarded a knife during a foot chase. Both face charges for robbery, offensive weapon possession, and drugs. The incident occurred on 1 August 2026.
Borough-wide and national stories that name Lewisham 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.
More than 500 murders were recorded by the Metropolitan Police in London over the past five years. Westminster has the highest murder rate per 100,000 people in England and Wales, while Lambeth recorded the highest number of killings in London.
Several men from South London have received significant prison sentences for a range of serious offences. Convictions include child sex offences, attempted murder, robbery, drug supply, and escaping lawful custody.

The father of Leo Marcus, who was fatally stabbed in Woolwich in 2019, has described stop and search as an essential police tactic. His comments come as the Metropolitan Police report a fall in knife-enabled crime across London.

The London Marathon will become a two-day event in April 2027 for one year only, with 100,000 participants. Concerns have been raised by local representatives and businesses regarding potential disruption and loss of trade.

Daniel Boakye, serving six years for a £115,000 cryptocurrency robbery, escaped custody twice in February 2024. He was recaptured in France 16 days later and sentenced to an additional 10 months at Woolwich Crown Court on 14 August 2024. Police still do not know how he reached Brittany.

Four men were stabbed in central London on 5 August 2026, with two treated in hospital and two discharged. A woman was arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon. Separately, a man died in a motorbike crash in Poplar, and a woman was found dead in Lewisham.

The Metropolitan Police are extending a digital evidence platform to eight additional boroughs after a pilot in six areas saw the proportion of cases leading to cautions or charges rise from 7.3% to 29.4%. Retailers including Boots and Greggs can now upload footage and statements without delay.
A new Metropolitan Police system has increased the proportion of shoplifting cases with a positive outcome from 7.3% to 29.4%. Barnet retailers will join the scheme on 3 August 2026, allowing faster evidence submission and arrests.

An inquest at Inner South London Coroner's Court found that Dena Collins, a primary school teacher from Eltham, would likely have survived if a blood clot had been diagnosed and treated. The coroner identified 'errors of clinical judgment' in her care at a GP surgery and Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich.

An inquest at Inner South London Coroner’s Court found that Dena Collins would likely have survived had her blood clot been diagnosed and treated. The coroner identified clinical judgment errors but no neglect. Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust will review the findings.
Significant incidents, hearings, outcomes and public-data changes across the capital.