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214 stories · page 11 of 12
London Fire Brigade calls for 5,000 more firefighters as wildfires surge
Community Safety—11 Aug 2026, 16:064 min readLondon Fire Brigade has urged the recruitment of 5,000 additional firefighters after a record 1,251 emergency calls in 24 hours on 6 July. Wildfires, including a 10-hectare blaze in Rainham, forced evacuations and stretched crews amid extreme heat and drought conditions.Read more
Met Police cut phone thefts by 13,000 in July after Lambeth Bridge robberyCommunity Safety—11 Aug 2026, 15:254 min readMetropolitan Police recorded 13,000 fewer mobile phone thefts in July after deploying e-bikes, drones and facial recognition. Housing minister Sally Jameson was robbed on Lambeth Bridge in 2025, prompting a citywide crackdown. Only 20% of stolen phones are now reactivated, down from 80%.
Bleed kits installed in Chingford as campaign launches fundraiserCommunity Safety—11 Aug 2026, 13:064 min readA new campaign, Bleed Kits Now, has installed bleed control kits at two Chingford locations and will hold a fundraising event on 5 December. The kits, designed to stop severe bleeding before paramedics arrive, will be donated to the Daniel Baird Foundation for wider distribution in Waltham Forest.
Jewish school heads in Barnet spend 90% of time on security as antisemitic incidents rise
Community Safety—11 Aug 2026, 07:476 min readHeadteachers in Barnet’s Jewish schools report spending up to 90% of their time on security, as antisemitic incidents in schools rise by 59% in 2026. Sir David Bell’s government-commissioned review reveals harassment of pupils on public transport and calls for mandatory teacher training.
70 Volkswagen parts stolen in Lewisham and south east London spree
Community Safety—9 Aug 2026, 16:464 min readThieves 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.
Westminster Council prioritises table-service venues in new licensing policy
Community Safety—8 Aug 2026, 06:255 min readWestminster City Council’s draft licensing policy will favour establishments offering table service over traditional bars. Pubs like The Globe near Baker Street have faced repeated reviews after complaints about noise, while Greggs was blocked from selling hot food overnight due to police concerns about crime and disorder.
Westminster Council proposes curbs on standing drinkers in Soho and West End pubs
Community Safety—7 Aug 2026, 07:065 min readWestminster Council has proposed new licensing rules encouraging pubs in Soho and the West End to reduce standing customers, sparking criticism from Downing Street, the Mayor of London, and local business owners. The draft policy is open for consultation until 20 September 2024.
Westminster Council’s standing-drinker policy sparks Soho pub closures warning
Community Safety—7 Aug 2026, 03:056 min readWestminster City Council’s draft licensing policy proposes reducing standing capacity in Soho and West End pubs to ease pavement crowding. Pub owners warn of closures and job losses, while Mayor Sadiq Khan and Downing Street criticise the plans. The consultation closes on 9 August.
Merton Council approves 11-storey Mitcham scheme despite heritage group warning
Community Safety—6 Aug 2026, 07:255 min readMerton Council has approved a 249-home redevelopment in Mitcham town centre, including buildings up to 11 storeys. The Mitcham Cricket Green Community and Heritage group says the decision contradicts the council’s Local Plan and has demanded an emergency policy review.
Grosvenor Gardens rough sleeping surge costs businesses thousands
Community Safety—5 Aug 2026, 18:455 min readShop owners near Victoria station say rough sleepers in Grosvenor Gardens are causing thefts, property damage and anti-social behaviour. Westminster Council confirms £8 million annual spending on homelessness support but calls for Home Office action to address criminal activity linked to rough sleeping.
Kensington and Chelsea approves 24-hour gambling arcade opposite Earl’s Court station
Community Safety—5 Aug 2026, 07:465 min readKensington and Chelsea Council has granted Silvertime Amusements a 24-hour licence for a new gambling venue opposite Earl’s Court Tube station. The decision follows 346 objections and a planning refusal in April. The company must now win a planning appeal to proceed.
Barnet residents surrender 14,500 knives in Home Office amnesty bins
Community Safety—5 Aug 2026, 00:255 min readMore than 14,500 knives and weapons have been surrendered in Home Office-backed amnesty bins since July 2025, including in Barnet. Knife crime in London has fallen 11%, with knife-enabled robberies down 16% and homicides down 26%. The scheme operates on a 'no questions asked' basis.
Brixton Street Gym secures Herne Hill site for two-year relocation
Community Safety—4 Aug 2026, 17:265 min readBrixton Street Gym will relocate to two units on Milkwood Road in Herne Hill after Lambeth Council granted temporary planning permission. The move allows the charity to continue free fitness and youth programmes while its permanent home is rebuilt under the Somerleyton Road scheme.
Enfield Council recovers unlawfully sublet home after fraud investigation
Community Safety—4 Aug 2026, 12:264 min readEnfield Council has reclaimed a property after discovering it was unlawfully sublet. The tenant surrendered the tenancy following an investigation by the counter-fraud team. The home will now be allocated to a household on the housing waiting list.
Sadiq Khan pledges £1.5m for Enfield youth activities as social media ban looms
Community Safety—4 Aug 2026, 07:065 min readSir Sadiq Khan has allocated £1.5 million to summer activities in Enfield, including football sessions, to divert young people from crime. The funding follows a UK government ban on under-16s using TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram from next year. The Mayor said the ban alone is not enough to tackle youth violence.
£1.5m London youth safety fund backs Godwin Lawson football tournament
Community Safety—4 Aug 2026, 06:265 min readA £1.5 million funding boost from City Hall will expand summer youth safety programmes, including the annual football tournament held in memory of Godwin Lawson, the 17-year-old from Enfield stabbed in Stamford Hill in 2010. The money supports workshops and matches for 150 young players.
Lee Boxell’s father appeals for answers 38 years after son vanished in Cheam
Community Safety—3 Aug 2026, 17:465 min readPeter Boxell appeared on ITV’s This Morning to renew calls for information about his son Lee, who disappeared aged 15 in Cheam in 1988. Police suspect Lee may have been killed after witnessing an assault at an unofficial youth club near St Dunstan’s Church. The case remains open.
Martin Stokes fined £3,905 for fly-tipping at Barkingside bingo hall
Community Safety—3 Aug 2026, 06:474 min readA court ordered Martin Stokes to pay £3,905 after he dumped household waste outside Buzz Bingo Hall in Barkingside. Redbridge Council said he had ignored a fixed penalty notice and previous fines for fly-tipping in the borough.
How to report a crime in London: 999, 101, online and on public transport
Community Safety—1 Aug 2026, 05:006 min readA practical guide to reporting crime in London: when to call 999, how to make a non-emergency Met Police report, when British Transport Police is responsible and what details to preserve.