The morning case file
London Crime Briefing
Significant incidents, hearings, outcomes and public-data changes across the capital.
Subject
City of London Police
London Crime News has published 32 stories involving City of London Police, from August 2026 to November 2026. Each one is scored for how well the original reporting stood up, and lists the reports it was written from.
- Crime Data · City of London
City of London Police seek men after phone snatched in pub
City of London Police are appealing for help to identify two men after a phone was stolen from a pub table in plain sight. The theft occurred while the victim was engaged in conversation, with the thief snatching the device and leaving with his accomplice.
City of London2 min readTrust 42 · Craft 58 · Hype 41 
Policing · City of LondonLondon Mayor Sadiq Khan Raises Concerns Over Police Super-Force Plans
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mark Rowley has proposed merging England and Wales' 43 police forces into eight to 10 'super-forces'. London Mayor Sadiq Khan is reportedly concerned about the impact on accountability and neighbourhood policing, joining other regional leaders in criticising the plans.
City of London4 min readTrust 50 · Craft 65 · Hype 45- Policing · City of London
City of London police offer safety video instead of £50 fine for cyclists
City of London police have launched a new initiative where cyclists caught running red lights can opt to watch a safety video rather than pay a £50 fine. The 'stop, look, listen, change' scheme aims to educate riders on the consequences of their actions.
City of London4 min readTrust 50 · Craft 87 · Hype 30 - Courts · City of London
Canadian men jailed for City of London hotel stabbing
Two Canadian nationals have been sentenced to prison for their roles in a stabbing at a City of London hotel. The incident, which occurred during a drug deal, left the victim with life-threatening injuries. Police recovered drugs and cash from the scene.
City of London3 min readTrust 50 · Craft 65 · Hype 45 - Fraud & Cybercrime · City of London
Man arrested over £28,000 sheep theft insurance scam
A 24-year-old man has been arrested by City of London Police on suspicion of fraud. The arrest follows an investigation into insurance claims for over 650 sheep allegedly stolen in Devon, with over £28,000 paid out before a third claim was stopped.
City of London3 min readTrust 50 · Craft 61 · Hype 41 - Policing · City of London
City cyclists can watch film instead of paying red light fines
Cyclists caught running red lights in the City of London may now opt to watch a road safety film instead of receiving an immediate fine. The 'STOP, LOOK, LISTEN, CHANGE' initiative aims to educate riders on the consequences of dangerous cycling.
City of London3 min readTrust 60 · Craft 60 · Hype 20 - Policing · City of London
City of London cyclists face video option for red light offences
City of London police have introduced a 'sin bin' approach for cyclists caught running red lights. Offenders can opt to watch a 47-second road safety video, featuring testimonials from visually impaired individuals and accident footage, or pay a £50 fixed penalty notice.
City of London3 min readTrust 68 · Craft 77 · Hype 45 
Policing · LewishamCannabis adverts with QR codes appear on Deptford High Street
Dozens of stickers featuring QR codes have been found on Deptford High Street, advertising cannabis products for sale online. Police are aware of the stickers and are removing them.
Lewisham2 min readTrust 38 · Craft 79 · Hype 45- Fraud & Cybercrime · City of London
Insurers Detect £1.34 Billion in Fraudulent Claims
Insurers identified £1.34 billion in fraudulent insurance claims during 2025, a 14% increase from the previous year. The average fraudulent claim rose to £14,300, with motor insurance representing the largest share of detected fraud.
City of London3 min readTrust 50 · Craft 61 · Hype 41 - Courts · City of London
Ex-City Special Constable barred after spying conviction
A former City of London Police Special Constable has been placed on the force's barred list following his conviction for spying on Hong Kong dissidents. Chi Leung 'Peter' Wai was sentenced to 10 years in prison for his crimes.
City of London3 min readTrust 60 · Craft 60 · Hype 40 - Community Safety · City of London
City of London Police officer Shanice Bennett dies aged 26
City of London Police officer Shanice Bennett has died at the age of 26. She gained a significant following on TikTok for sharing her journey with stage-four breast cancer and advocating for early detection.
City of London3 min readTrust 42 · Craft 63 · Hype 41 - Fraud & Cybercrime · City of London
Ponzi scheme mastermind jailed for over five years
James Gillingham has been jailed for five years and six months for leading a £1 million Ponzi scheme that defrauded over 60 victims. The gang used fake London office addresses and aliases from popular TV shows to deceive investors between June 2015 and October 2016.
City of London3 min readTrust 70 · Craft 77 · Hype 45 - Fraud & Cybercrime · City of London
Fraudster jailed for £1m investment scam
James Gillingham has been sentenced to five years and six months in prison for an investment fraud scam that defrauded 74 investors of over £1 million. He operated through companies Choice Option and Blue Crest Capital Options, promising guaranteed returns through binary options trading.
City of London3 min readTrust 60 · Craft 60 · Hype 40 
Courts · City of LondonCity of London faces £633.8m bill for new court complex
The City of London Corporation is set to bear the full £633.8 million cost of the Salisbury Square development, which will house new courts and the City of London Police headquarters. The Government will pay only a peppercorn rent for the court facilities.
City of London3 min readTrust 60 · Craft 77 · Hype 45- Courts · City of London
Thief wanted after stealing phone from vulnerable man near Liverpool Street
City of London Police are seeking Paul Langan, 58, who stole a mobile phone from a vulnerable man near Liverpool Street station. He pleaded guilty to the offence but failed to attend court for sentencing.
City of London3 min readTrust 50 · Craft 65 · Hype 45 
Transport Crime · City of LondonLime cyclist fined and banned after Fleet Street pavement incident
A Lime e-bike rider has been fined for careless cycling and permanently banned from the service after a video showed him weaving between pedestrians on Fleet Street to avoid a bus. He also made an offensive gesture to a pedestrian who challenged his behaviour.
City of London3 min readTrust 60 · Craft 65 · Hype 45- Courts · City of London
Cyclist jailed after Bishopsgate knife arrest
A cyclist caught carrying a six-inch knife after being stopped for running a red light on Bishopsgate has pleaded guilty to multiple offences. Ridwan Abdilahi was detained following a struggle and faces sentencing at a later date.
City of London3 min readTrust 42 · Craft 61 · Hype 41 
Violent Crime · City of LondonCity of London stabbing: Police seek man on CCTV
City of London Police are appealing for public assistance to identify a man captured on CCTV following a stabbing incident in South Place. The victim was taken to hospital and later discharged.
City of London2 min readTrust 30 · Craft 50 · Hype 41
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
Policing · City of LondonChristopher Forrester jailed for 24 weeks after Cheapside bike theft
Christopher Forrester was sentenced to 24 weeks in prison after stealing a £1,800 bike on Cheapside on 16 June 2026. Police pursued him with help from a bystander, and the stolen bike was returned to its owner. Forrester also breached a Criminal Behaviour Order.
City of London3 min readTrust 42 · Craft 55 · Hype 65
Fraud & Cybercrime · HackneyHackney man jailed for stealing £92k meant for breast cancer charity
A Hackney man has been sentenced to two and a half years in prison for defrauding Breast Cancer Now of nearly £92,000. Tameem Choudhury altered bank details to redirect funds meant for the charity into his own account.
Hackney3 min readTrust 55 · Craft 65 · Hype 50.png?width=1200&auto=webp&quality=75)
Policing · Tower HamletsMet Police admit system error misdirected journalist after camera theft
A journalist's camera was stolen from a Shoreditch pub, but the Metropolitan Police initially misdirected the victim to another force due to a system error. The Met has since apologised and stated that internal reviews and actions have been taken.
Tower Hamlets3 min readTrust 50 · Craft 65 · Hype 55
Policing · City of LondonShoplifter recalled to prison after stealing £72 of Buzzballz in City of London
A man has been sent back to prison after pleading guilty to stealing approximately £72 worth of alcoholic drinks from a City of London shop. Staff identified him when he returned the next day, leading to his arrest by City of London Police and a recall to custody.
City of London3 min readTrust 58 · Craft 72 · Hype 30
Violent Crime · City of LondonTwo jailed for nine years after City of London watch robberies and stabbings
Two men have been sentenced to a total of 14 years in prison after violent robberies in the City of London left one victim stabbed twice and another kicked in the head. CCTV footage confirmed the attacks, which involved knives and the theft of watches worth around £400 each.
City of London4 min readTrust 66 · Craft 40 · Hype 55
Policing · LondonMet Police seize record 2,367 illegal e-bikes in London crackdown
Metropolitan Police seized 2,367 illegal e-bikes in the year to 19 May 2026, the highest total of any UK force. New laws now let officers remove unregistered machines that can exceed 70 mph, linked to thefts, fires and fatal collisions across London.
London5 min readTrust 74 · Craft 95 · Hype 28
Violent Crime · IslingtonMan stabbed in Islington discharged after South Place attack
A man was treated at the scene and taken to a major trauma centre after being stabbed in Islington on 13 August 2026. Police confirmed the victim has since been discharged, but no arrests have been made. Officers are appealing for information about the late-night attack.
Islington3 min readTrust 64 · Craft 60 · Hype 15
Violent Crime · City of LondonMan stabbed outside Moorgate gym, discharged after hospital treatment
A man was taken to hospital following a stabbing outside Third Space gym in Moorgate on 13 August 2026. Police cordoned off the area and are investigating, while the victim has since been discharged. Officers urge anyone with information to come forward.
City of London4 min readTrust 66 · Craft 60 · Hype 30
Violent Crime · City of LondonCheapside bike thief jailed after public tackle
A 39-year-old man was sentenced to prison after stealing a bicycle in Cheapside and fleeing from City of London Police officers. A member of the public assisted in his arrest. The bike was returned to its owner following the incident on 16 June.
City of London4 min readTrust 42 · Craft 55 · Hype 70
Violent Crime · City of LondonTwo jailed for City watch robberies, third suspect in Switzerland
Two men have been sentenced for a series of violent watch robberies in the City of London, where one victim was stabbed twice. A third suspect, Dogukan Aktas, remains at large in Switzerland with Interpol assisting in the search. Police vow to continue pursuing him.
City of London4 min readTrust 56 · Craft 80 · Hype 65
Policing · City of LondonCity of London Police officer PC Isaac Keown dismissed for sharing vulnerable woman’s footage
PC Isaac Keown was dismissed without notice and barred from policing after sending body-worn camera footage of a domestic incident involving a vulnerable woman to his cousin, a Gloucestershire officer. The City of London Police misconduct panel found his actions deliberate and gross misconduct.
City of London5 min readTrust 42 · Craft 55 · Hype 58- Transport Crime · London
Who polices the London Underground, stations and rail network?
A practical guide to which police force handles incidents on London trains, the Underground, stations, buses and streets, including the BTP 61016 text route.
London5 min read - Fraud & Cybercrime · London
How to report fraud and cybercrime in London after Action Fraud changed
Where London residents and businesses should report fraud or cybercrime in 2026, what to tell a bank, how to preserve evidence and when an immediate police response is needed.
London6 min read