The morning case file
London Crime Briefing
Significant incidents, hearings, outcomes and public-data changes across the capital.
Topic
metropolitanpolice
659 stories, newest first · page 4 of 33.
- Courts · City of London
Ex-Met Officer Jailed for Sexual Assault
A former Metropolitan Police officer, Sijanta Thapa, has been sentenced to 21 months in prison for sexually assaulting a colleague. The incident occurred in October 2020 after a social gathering. Thapa resigned from the force in 2024 following a separate allegation.
City of London3 min readTrust 60 · Craft 77 · Hype 45 - Courts · London
Student jailed for 28 years for brutal West London murder
A 24-year-old man has been sentenced to 28 years in prison for the murder of Xiaoqing Ke, a mother of two, in West London. The court heard of a sustained knife attack following emotional manipulation and theft.
London3 min readTrust 70 · Craft 77 · Hype 45 
Courts · HackneyMan arrested after moped rider dies in Hackney crash
A 64-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving after a crash on Lea Bridge Road in Hackney. A 51-year-old moped driver died at the scene. The Metropolitan Police are investigating and seeking information.
Hackney2 min readTrust 30 · Craft 55 · Hype 45
Community Safety · Waltham ForestWaltham Forest ASB reports rise as residents cite 'waste of time' reporting
Waltham Forest recorded over 40 antisocial behaviour incidents this summer, with formal police reports increasing in August. Residents express frustration, feeling reporting is ineffective, while the Met aims to improve services and plans local operations.
Waltham Forest3 min readTrust 50 · Craft 65 · Hype 30- Violent Crime · Westminster
Gangs steal £1m of watches in West End monthly
Organised gangs are stealing an average of £1 million worth of luxury watches every month in London's West End. Metropolitan Police figures show 167 robberies or attempted robberies occurred in Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea, and Hammersmith and Fulham between January and September 2026.
Westminster3 min readTrust 60 · Craft 65 · Hype 45 - Violent Crime · Westminster
Three jailed for £137,000 watch robbery in Mayfair
Three men have been convicted of robbing a Romanian businessman of a £137,000 watch in Mayfair. The incident is part of a wider problem of wrist-watch theft in London's West End, where an average of £1m worth of watches are stolen each month.
Westminster4 min readTrust 70 · Craft 77 · Hype 45 - Violent Crime · Westminster
Manhunt launched after Maida Hill house fire
Police are appealing for the public's help to find a man wanted in connection with a house fire on Lydford Road in Maida Hill. A man was inside the property at the time but was not injured.
Westminster2 min readTrust 42 · Craft 63 · Hype 41 - Policing · London
Met pilots new team to engage with street sex workers
The Metropolitan Police has launched a new initiative, Operation Amicus, deploying a two-officer female team in north London to engage with street sex workers. This pilot aims to foster trust and encourage reporting of crimes, following criticism of past policing approaches highlighted by the Simon Levy case.
London5 min readTrust 70 · Craft 77 · Hype 45 
Courts · Kensington and ChelseaDeepak Sandhu guilty of Earl's Court murder
Deepak Sandhu has been found guilty of murdering Xiaoqing Ke at the Old Bailey. He travelled from Southampton to Earl's Court on December 9, 2025, to carry out the fatal stabbing. Sandhu was arrested days later as he attempted to leave the country.
Kensington and Chelsea3 min readTrust 50 · Craft 65 · Hype 45- Violent Crime · Westminster
Westminster man escapes home fire started deliberately
A fire was deliberately started at a home in Maida Hill on Saturday, July 18, while a man was inside. He escaped uninjured. Detectives are seeking a man captured on CCTV.
Westminster3 min readTrust 30 · Craft 55 · Hype 65 - Violent Crime · Westminster
Man suffers potentially life-changing head injury in Leicester Square assault
A man in his 40s sustained a serious head injury, believed to be potentially life-changing, following an assault in Leicester Square on October 14. Emergency services, including London's Air Ambulance, attended the scene. No arrests have been made.
Westminster2 min readTrust 42 · Craft 63 · Hype 41 - Violent Crime · City of London
Man taken to major trauma centre after Leicester Square assault
A man was taken to a major trauma centre after an assault in Leicester Square on Tuesday night. Emergency services were called to the scene shortly after 9pm, and a police cordon remained in place the following morning.
City of London2 min readTrust 30 · Craft 58 · Hype 45 - Policing · Westminster
Leicester Square Cordoned Off After Overnight Police Incident
Leicester Square was cordoned off by police following an overnight incident. The cordon remained in place into the morning, with authorities continuing their investigations into the circumstances of the event.
Westminster1 min readTrust 30 · Craft 45 · Hype 61 
Policing · BrentPolice called to Gladstone Park over erratic driving reports
Officers responded to reports of vehicles being driven erratically in Gladstone Park on 14 October. No arrests were made at the time, and Brent Council has set a deadline for the vehicles to vacate the premises.
Brent2 min readTrust 56 · Craft 80 · Hype 15
Courts · HillingdonMet Police ordered to reinvestigate Graham Linehan arrest over discrimination claim
The Metropolitan Police must reinvestigate a complaint about the arrest of Graham Linehan at Heathrow Airport. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) found failings in the Met's initial investigation and has directed them to re-examine a discrimination claim made by the writer.
Hillingdon3 min readTrust 50 · Craft 65 · Hype 45
Violent Crime · LondonWestminster records highest violent offence rate in September 2026
In September 2026 London saw 21,715 violent offences. Westminster had the highest rate at 3.4 per 1,000 residents, Brent recorded 959 incidents and Richmond upon Thames the lowest rate at 1.4 per 1,000. The figures reflect a 7.6% rise on the previous year.
London2 min readTrust 62 · Craft 71 · Hype 30
Violent Crime · CamdenTeen arrested outside Parliament Hill School on suspicion of knife possession
A 16-year-old boy was arrested outside Parliament Hill School in Camden on Wednesday morning. Police were called to reports of a knife being used to threaten children. No injuries were reported.
Camden1 min readTrust 50 · Craft 65 · Hype 45- Courts · City of London
Millwall Manager Criticises Match Stoppage Over Abuse Claim
Millwall manager Alex Neil has voiced his criticism regarding the temporary halt of their match against Swansea City due to alleged racist abuse. The incident, which occurred during the second half, is now under investigation by the Metropolitan Police.
City of London3 min readTrust 60 · Craft 77 · Hype 40 - Courts · City of London
Palantir drops £50m Met Police AI deal legal challenge
Technology firm Palantir has ended its High Court bid against the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime over a blocked £50m contract with the Metropolitan Police. The decision to halt the deal was based on value for money, MOPAC stated.
City of London3 min readTrust 60 · Craft 70 · Hype 20 
Community Safety · BrentCaravans drive erratically in Gladstone Park
Several caravans were reportedly seen driving erratically and at speed on footpaths within Gladstone Park on October 14. A concerned dog walker described the driving as dangerous and suggested police should be dispatched to the area.
Brent2 min readTrust 30 · Craft 45 · Hype 61