The morning case file
London Crime Briefing
Significant incidents, hearings, outcomes and public-data changes across the capital.
Area
Southwark crime
75 stories from and about Southwark, mostly courts, community safety, violent crime. The most recent ran on 14 September 2026. Page 3 of 4.
Public records for Southwark. Explore the Home Office street-level crime figures for this area.
Also affecting Southwark
Borough-wide and national stories that name Southwark or bear directly on it.
Policing · Waltham ForestWaltham Forest Council Condemned Over Immigration Raid Stance
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.
Waltham Forest3 min readTrust 60 · Craft 65 · Hype 45- Crime Data · London
Westminster has highest murder rate in England and Wales
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.
London3 min readTrust 48 · Craft 65 · Hype 68 
Community Safety · HackneyHackney Council investigates security guard after protester pushed to ground
Hackney Council is investigating an incident where a security guard allegedly pushed a protester to the ground during a demonstration concerning overcrowded temporary accommodation. The protest at Hackney Town Hall involved members of Housing Action Southwark and Lambeth.
Hackney3 min readTrust 42 · Craft 63 · Hype 45
Courts · EalingCouple told to take adoption leave before councils scrap plans
A London couple were advised to take a year of adoption leave from work and buy children's items before Ealing, Hounslow, and Southwark Councils abandoned their adoption plans. The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman found multiple failures in the process.
Ealing4 min readTrust 60 · Craft 65 · Hype 45
Courts · City of LondonMan jailed for strangling theatregoer had hired hitmen
Malcolm Potier, 75, has been jailed for two years after strangling a theatregoer during a performance. He had previously been imprisoned for attempting to hire hitmen.
City of London3 min readTrust 60 · Craft 77 · Hype 45
Courts · City of LondonMalcolm Potier jailed for strangling woman at London Coliseum
Malcolm Potier, 75, has been sentenced to two years in prison for strangling Kirsty O'Donnell at the London Coliseum in June 2023. The attack followed an argument after the victim sang along to a show. Potier has a previous conviction in Australia for inciting murder.
City of London3 min readTrust 60 · Craft 77 · Hype 41
Courts · City of LondonHousehold Cavalry soldier jailed for 12 years for child sex offence plot
A soldier from the Household Cavalry has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for attempting to arrange child sex offences. Graham Jarvis plotted to rape a seven-year-old girl and a 10-month-old baby he met online, before being arrested by an undercover police officer.
City of London3 min readTrust 42 · Craft 65 · Hype 41- Policing · Westminster
Westminster E-bike Operation Leads to 187 Arrests
A major police operation in Westminster targeting thieves using e-bikes and mopeds has resulted in 187 arrests and 157 vehicles seized. The operation, which ran from February to July, also saw a 22 per cent drop in e-bike related crime in areas like Lambeth and Southwark.
Westminster3 min readTrust 60 · Craft 75 · Hype 40 
Fraud & Cybercrime · WandsworthWandsworth hotelier jailed for £450k Covid loan fraud
A Wandsworth hotelier has received a suspended prison sentence for defrauding the government of £450,000 through fraudulent Covid support loan applications. Richard Courtenay made nine false applications for Bounce Back Loans, using the funds for personal gain. He was ordered to complete unpaid work and rehabilitation.
Wandsworth3 min readTrust 50 · Craft 77 · Hype 20
Community Safety · LondonEnfield dog owner fined £1,850 for persistent barking
An Enfield dog owner has been ordered to pay £1,850 in fines and costs after his dog's persistent barking led to a breach of a noise abatement notice. Enfield Council stated that continuous loud noise from dogs is considered antisocial behaviour.
London3 min readTrust 60 · Craft 65 · Hype 45
Courts · City of LondonMan receives suspended sentence for Liverpool Street sexual assault
Sofiane Belasri, 41, has received a two-year suspended sentence for sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl and attempting to bribe her with a vape near Liverpool Street station. The incident occurred on July 4, 2024, and Belasri was arrested at the scene.
City of London2 min readTrust 60 · Craft 60 · Hype 45
Courts · WestminsterMan denies stealing £100,000 watch from actor
Rachid Bouchibane has denied robbing actor Alexander Johnson of a Patek Philippe watch valued at £100,000. The trial is scheduled for January 2029, and Bouchibane has been released on bail.
Westminster2 min readTrust 42 · Craft 65 · Hype 25
Fraud & Cybercrime · City of LondonHotelier Richard Courtenay jailed for £450k Covid loan fraud
A London hotelier has been sentenced to a suspended prison term for fraudulently obtaining £450,000 in Covid 'bounce back' loans. Richard Courtenay pleaded guilty to fraud and money laundering charges and has repaid the full amount.
City of London3 min readTrust 60 · Craft 71 · Hype 41
Courts · LewishamTwo deny Lewisham murder after nightclub dispute
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.
Lewisham3 min readTrust 48 · Craft 65 · Hype 45- Courts · Haringey
Three jailed for minimum of 22 years for Haringey murder
Three men have been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Gregory Catillo Volquez in Haringey. Benito Ramirez Kones, Carlos Akum Metumbe, and Luiggi Perelli Santana will serve minimum terms of 23, 22, and 23 years respectively.
Haringey3 min readTrust 70 · Craft 77 · Hype 45 
Courts · HaringeyThree jailed for life for Tiverton Estate murder
Three men have received life sentences for the murder of Gregory Catillo Volquez, who was stabbed 22 times and beaten on the Tiverton Estate in Haringey. The court heard of an 'arsenal of knives' found on the estate.
Haringey3 min readTrust 60 · Craft 75 · Hype 45
Violent Crime · WestminsterTwo jailed for Mayfair robbery of £137,000 watch from designer
Two men have been convicted of robbing fashion designer Catalin Botezatu of a £137,000 Richard Mille watch in Mayfair on 28 January 2026. The victim, who feared for his life, was restrained and injured during the attack outside Amazonico restaurant near Berkeley Square.
Westminster4 min readTrust 55 · Craft 65 · Hype 30
LatestThree directors jailed for £70m tree-planting investment scam
Three directors of Ethical Forestry Ltd have been jailed at Southwark Crown Court for their roles in a £70 million investment scam. The scheme, which ran from 2008 to 2015, defrauded nearly 3,000 victims, who lost savings and pensions. The directors spent millions on luxury goods and properties.
4 min readTrust 45 · Craft 55 · Hype 70
Courts · WestminsterMayfair watch robbery trial: Defendant says he was threatened with fire
A 22-year-old man accused of robbing a £137,000 Richard Mille watch in Mayfair said he was threatened with being set on fire if he refused. The trial at Southwark Crown Court heard Ali Eldahouzze and Abdel El Habchi deny robbery charges after Catalin Botezatu was targeted in January.
Westminster4 min readTrust 48 · Craft 85 · Hype 35
Courts · WestminsterAli Eldahouzze denies Mayfair watch robbery after death threats
A 22-year-old man has told a court he was threatened with being set on fire if he did not help steal a £137,000 watch in Berkeley Square. Ali Eldahouzze denies robbery but admits meeting the victim’s assailant minutes before the attack on 28 January 2026.
Westminster5 min readTrust 42 · Craft 55 · Hype 35