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214 stories · page 9 of 12
PM pledges national memorial for terrorism survivors
Community Safety—21 Aug 2026, 17:053 min readPrime Minister Andy Burnham has pledged to consult on a national memorial for terrorism survivors. The government will also review the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority and legal aid access, with a new victims minister tasked with improving support.Read more
Southall pub fined £17,000 for bed bugs and cockroach infestationsCommunity Safety—21 Aug 2026, 14:053 min readThe Old Oak Tree pub in Southall has been fined approximately £17,000 for serious public health and safety violations, including infestations of bed bugs and cockroaches. The company director, Darshan Singh Grewal, received a criminal record.
Croydon Council to replace vandalised memorial tree in Norbury ParkCommunity Safety—21 Aug 2026, 12:462 min readA memorial cherry tree for a guide dog named Star in Norbury Park, Croydon, has been vandalised. The tree was planted nearly three years ago by Paul Harman, who is visually impaired. Croydon Council has committed to replacing the tree.
Sutton Tennis Club seeks £700,000 for new clubhouse
Community Safety—21 Aug 2026, 11:463 min readSutton Churches Tennis Club is raising over £700,000 to build a new, sustainable clubhouse, replacing its dilapidated 100-year-old structure. The club has seen significant growth, now boasting 532 members, and aims for the new facility to serve the community for decades.
Southwark night patrol extended to 2027 with £600,000 boost
Community Safety—21 Aug 2026, 10:053 min readSouthwark Council's night time patrol service has been extended until August 2027, backed by an additional £600,000 in funding. The uniformed officers respond to reports of violence against women and girls and anti-social behaviour across the borough.
Southwark Council toughens rules for private landlords
Community Safety—21 Aug 2026, 10:054 min readSouthwark Council has updated its Private Sector Housing Enforcement Policy to impose tougher sanctions on landlords failing to meet housing standards. The move, supported by the Renters Rights Act 2025, aims to protect the rights of private tenants across the borough.
Gem House tenants face eviction after £12.6m sale to private landlord
Community Safety—20 Aug 2026, 17:475 min readSixteen families in Marylebone must apply for homelessness rehousing after their flats were sold to a private landlord, who has demanded rents up to eight times higher. Westminster Council’s legal challenge failed, leaving tenants uncertain about their future before evictions begin at the end of August.
Met Police block Tooting shop's bid to sell alcohol until 2am
Community Safety—20 Aug 2026, 17:054 min readKK Convenience Store on Tooting High Street sought to extend alcohol sales to 2am, but the Met Police and Wandsworth Council opposed the plan, citing increased anti-social behaviour risks in the Cumulative Impact Zone. The committee's decision is pending.
Harrow cancels fines without bodycam proof from 1 September
Community Safety—20 Aug 2026, 16:065 min readHarrow Council will invalidate all fines issued without bodycam footage from 1 September, following the sacking of two enforcement officers for misconduct. A new dedicated team will begin patrols with stricter camera rules and 40% of footage audited for six months.
Tottenham car park where two women were murdered still unsafe, residents say
Community Safety—19 Aug 2026, 06:455 min readResidents and a shopkeeper in Tottenham say the B&M car park where Simon Levy murdered two women remains unsafe, with persistent antisocial behaviour, drug use and no police response. B&M and Tottenham Hotspur have promised security measures by the end of September, but locals report no changes since Sheryl Wilkins’ killing in August 2025.
Croydon house collapse leaves Love Lane residents waiting for repairs
Community Safety—18 Aug 2026, 18:465 min readResidents of Love Lane, South Norwood, say a partially collapsed house at number 58 is damaging their street and their own property values. Croydon Council installed temporary supports after the frontage fell on 22 July 2025 but has not yet secured permanent repairs from the private owner.
Six Enfield drivers fined for Blue Badge fraud at Highbury Corner court
Community Safety—18 Aug 2026, 18:464 min readEnfield Council secured convictions against six drivers for Blue Badge fraud at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court. Fines ranged from £266 to £987 after offences in Enfield and Edmonton between October 2025 and January 2026. The council said it takes a zero-tolerance approach to misuse.
Camden nightclub faces 49 new licensing rules after woman punched
Community Safety—18 Aug 2026, 12:065 min readA Camden nightclub where a man punched a woman in the stomach without police being called must now close earlier and employ five security staff at all times. The council imposed 49 new conditions after repeated breaches, including an under-18s event in July 2026.
Mitcham street drinking PSPO expires with no replacement plan
Community Safety—18 Aug 2026, 10:055 min readMerton Council’s borough-wide Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) for street drinking expired on 25 July 2025, leaving police without powers to confiscate alcohol in Mitcham town centre. A café owner reports police calls 3-4 times weekly, while the council says it is gathering evidence but has no replacement plan.
Three men die in White City fire at disused council building
Community Safety—17 Aug 2026, 18:065 min readThree men died in a fire at the former Over 50s Centre on White City Estate on 20 June 2026. The building, owned by Hammersmith and Fulham Council, had been closed for a decade and was occupied by homeless individuals. An inquest has been suspended pending a police investigation.
Sainsbury’s pauses AI face scans in East Dulwich after wrongful ejection
Community Safety—17 Aug 2026, 14:464 min readSainsbury’s has suspended its AI-assisted Facewatch technology in its East Dulwich store after a customer was wrongly identified as a shoplifter. Matt Arnold, 46, was ejected despite no prior incident. The supermarket chain apologised but maintains the system has a 99.98% accuracy rate.
Sainsbury's pauses facial recognition at East Dulwich store after wrongful shoplifter alert
Community Safety—17 Aug 2026, 12:064 min readSainsbury's has suspended live facial recognition at its East Dulwich branch following an incident where a customer was wrongly identified as a shoplifter. The supermarket apologised to Matt Arnold, 46, who was stopped at a self-service till and asked to leave. A similar error occurred in Elephant and Castle in January.
12-year-old boy drowns in River Lea at Hackney Marshes
Community Safety—17 Aug 2026, 08:263 min readA 12-year-old boy died after entering the River Lea near Hackney Marshes on 15 August 2026. London Fire Brigade and Metropolitan Police recovered his body after a night-time search. Mayor Zoë Garbett urged the public to respect the family’s privacy during the investigation.
Government wildfire alert risked exposing domestic abuse survivors in Barnet
Community Safety—16 Aug 2026, 20:064 min readA 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.