The morning case file
London Crime Briefing
Significant incidents, hearings, outcomes and public-data changes across the capital.
Topic
cityoflondon
125 stories, newest first · page 1 of 7.
- Policing · City of London
139 arrested supporting banned Palestine Action group
The Metropolitan Police arrested 139 individuals on Saturday, October 31, 2026, outside the US embassy in London. The arrests were made for showing support for Palestine Action, a group proscribed under the Terrorism Act.
City of London3 min readTrust 60 · Craft 65 · Hype 45 
Community Safety · City of LondonPalestine Action supporters protest outside US embassy in London
Supporters of Palestine Action held a demonstration outside the US embassy in Nine Elms, London, on Saturday. The protest occurred as a similar event took place in Edinburgh, ahead of a Supreme Court hearing challenging the group's proscription as a terror organisation.
City of London3 min readTrust 30 · Craft 58 · Hype 41- Courts · City of London
IOPC to probe Met handling of child abuse image letter
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) will investigate the Metropolitan Police's handling of a letter containing serious allegations against Thomas Markle Sr, father of the Duchess of Sussex. The letter, received in 2019, allegedly detailed offending which was not passed to overseas authorities.
City of London2 min readTrust 30 · Craft 45 · Hype 41 
Transport Crime · City of LondonPerson dies on Cannon Street Tube tracks
A person has died after an incident on the tracks at Cannon Street station. British Transport Police confirmed the death is not suspicious. Transport for London services experienced significant disruption during the emergency response.
City of London2 min readTrust 42 · Craft 65 · Hype 41- Community Safety · City of London
London heritage sites face fire risk due to LFB resource gaps
London's historic buildings are at increased risk of fire due to insufficient resources within the London Fire Brigade to assess and protect them. In 2025, 823 fire incidents occurred near heritage sites, highlighting ongoing vulnerabilities.
City of London3 min readTrust 60 · Craft 70 · Hype 45 
Transport Crime · City of LondonTourist claims pedicab driver pressured her for phone and card
An American tourist claims a pedicab driver pressured her for her phone and bank card after picking her up outside His Majesty's Theatre. The incident occurred weeks before new licensing regulations for pedicab drivers are set to take effect.
City of London3 min readTrust 42 · Craft 65 · Hype 41- Courts · City of London
Russell Brand denies rape claims, citing 'promiscuous' lifestyle
Russell Brand has told police his "very promiscuous" celebrity lifestyle has been "unfavourably reframed" into rape and sexual assault claims. The comedian, who denies all charges, was questioned four times between November 2023 and July 2025.
City of London4 min readTrust 42 · Craft 65 · Hype 41 - Courts · City of London
Two men charged over alleged Iran-linked RAF Fairford plot
Mohmed Abdulkarim and Nouman Essghir appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court charged under the National Security Act 2023. They are accused of involvement in a plot allegedly directed by an Iranian state-linked handler.
City of London3 min readTrust 50 · Craft 65 · Hype 45 - 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 - Policing · City of London
Met Police to scale back tag breach response
The Metropolitan Police is reducing its response to electronic tag breaches in a pilot scheme running until spring. Officers will only attend incidents lasting less than an hour if there is a public risk, prioritising high-risk offenders.
City of London2 min readTrust 40 · Craft 58 · Hype 41 - Policing · City of London
105 arrested in London-Essex border crackdown
A two-week police operation along the London-Essex border resulted in 105 arrests. Officers seized over three kilograms of cannabis, seven weapons, and 14 stolen vehicles, alongside £3,000 in cash.
City of London2 min readTrust 42 · Craft 53 · Hype 41 - Policing · City of London
Oxford Street to get live facial recognition cameras in December
Permanent live facial recognition cameras will be installed on Oxford Street in December, the Metropolitan Police has confirmed. The technology will scan shoppers' faces against a watchlist of suspects, drawing criticism from human rights groups over privacy and a lack of regulation.
City of London3 min readTrust 60 · Craft 60 · Hype 45 
Transport Crime · City of LondonTour bus and 4x4 hit souvenir stand near Trafalgar Square
A Golden Tours bus and a black 4x4 both collided with a souvenir stand on Spring Gardens near Trafalgar Square. The incident occurred on Thursday afternoon, causing significant traffic disruption. No injuries were reported, and emergency services attended the scene.
City of London2 min readTrust 48 · Craft 61 · Hype 45- Courts · City of London
Civil servant denies fraud over five public sector jobs
A civil servant accused of holding five full-time public sector jobs simultaneously has denied fraud. Kashim Chowdhury told the court he was overwhelmed by his mother's deteriorating health and applied for roles in a 'panic'.
City of London3 min readTrust 42 · Craft 65 · Hype 45 - Community Safety · City of London
Art exhibition by modern slavery survivors displayed in City of London
An exhibition featuring artwork by survivors of modern slavery is currently on display in Aldwych, following its run in Trafalgar Square. Organised by Hestia, 'Art is Freedom' aims to highlight the issue of exploitation and encourage public awareness.
City of London3 min readTrust 42 · Craft 68 · Hype 41 - Courts · City of London
Russell Brand denies rape and sexual assault charges at London trial
Russell Brand is on trial facing seven charges including rape and sexual assault. A complainant told police she felt she had to 'close her eyes and try not to be there' during an alleged attack at a London bar in 2004. Brand denies all charges.
City of London3 min readTrust 42 · Craft 65 · Hype 41 - Courts · City of London
Uber wins bid to dismiss £340m black cab driver claims
Uber has successfully had claims totalling approximately £340 million dismissed by the High Court. The claims were brought by around 13,000 London black cab drivers and two former private hire firms.
City of London2 min readTrust 42 · Craft 63 · Hype 41 - Courts · City of London
Russell Brand accused of Soho bar assault
Russell Brand is on trial at Southwark Crown Court, accused of sexual assault and rape. An accuser told the court he had a 'maniacal grin' during an alleged incident in a Soho bar in 2004. Brand denies all charges, stating sexual encounters were consensual.
City of London4 min readTrust 50 · Craft 65 · Hype 55 - Community Safety · City of London
Artist donates portrait to surgeon after 40 years at Royal Marsden
Artist Ruth Swain has donated a portrait of surgeon Dr Gerald Gui to the Royal Marsden Hospital. Dr Gui has worked at the hospital for 40 years, and Ms Swain was his patient after a breast cancer diagnosis in 2012. The artwork is now displayed on the hospital's main staircase.
City of London2 min readTrust 30 · Craft 65 · Hype 20 - Policing · City of London
Met Police Assess National Security Adviser's Wife's Post on Banned Group
The Metropolitan Police are examining a social media post made by Sarah Helm, wife of the Prime Minister's national security adviser. The post referenced Palestine Action, a group banned in July 2025, making support for it a criminal offence.
City of London3 min readTrust 60 · Craft 65 · Hype 45