Nine men arrested after Border Force finds 2.9 tonnes hidden in banana boxes from South America
London desk
Police urge victims to report incidents as inquiries continue into organised thefts across six neighbourhoods
Targeted reporting across London and its neighbourhoods
LondonLondon-born musician shaped electronic pop sound of the late 1990s and 2000s
LondonCampaigners say cycle lanes between pavements and bus stops force vulnerable passengers to cross moving traffic
LondonMet Police, British Transport Police and CPS admit failings that allowed convicted sex offender to kill again
LondonMet Police, British Transport Police and CPS admit failings left serial offender free to kill again
LondonWomen's safety groups urge organisers to pull April 2025 shows after BBC investigation details allegations
EalingBaraka sent a final text to her mother saying she was 'in danger' before her death in March 2024
CroydonFormer staff can reapply as liquidators sell business but exclude Thornton Heath site
HackneySir Alan Wood’s review concludes shouting was cultural, not individual, affecting pupils and staff alike
WestminsterDraft licensing policy targets 'vertical drinking' and late-night venues in Cumulative Impact Zone
BarnetCouncil leader Barry Rawlings urged opposition leader Peter Zinkin to demand Joshua Bonehill-Paine be removed from the role
All LondonMerton Council considers demolition of existing building and construction of nine homes with parking and landscaping
CamdenBlue Rose faces closure after police seized 200mg Sildenafil tablets sold without prescription
Live metropolitan file
Local News
· 5 min read
A jury at Inner London Crown Court found developers St James and facade contractor Lindner Prater guilty of safety breaches after a 130 kg window pane fell 25 storeys from The Corniche in Albert Embankment, killing coach driver Mick Ferris in October 2018. Foster + Partners and Wintech were acquitted.
Culture & Arts
· 5 min read
Grammy-winning producer William Orbit, known for Madonna’s *Ray of Light* and Blur’s *13*, died at home on 23 July 2026. His family announced his death, praising his influence on artists across pop, electronic and rock music. No cause of death was given.
Transport & TfL
· 5 min read
Six pedestrians were injured at floating bus stops in London between 2020 and 2022, Transport for London figures show. Blind and partially sighted residents in Barnet say they now avoid buses, opting for taxis instead, as campaigners demand a pause on new schemes until designs are made safe.
Crime & Safety
· 6 min read
Simon Levy, 40, was found guilty of murdering Carmenza Valencia-Trujillo, 53, in Southwark and Sheryl Wilkins, 39, in Tottenham. Police and prosecutors admitted systemic failures allowed him to remain free despite multiple sex attacks and a prior conviction.
Crime & Safety
· 5 min read
Simon Levy, 40, was found guilty at the Old Bailey of murdering Carmenza Valencia-Trujillo and Sheryl Wilkins in 2025. Authorities admitted systemic failures, including bail decisions that allowed him to commit further attacks. Two officers are under investigation by the IOPC.
The capital briefing
The decisions, institutions and neighbourhood stories shaping the city today.
More London reportingCrime & Safety
Alvin Gitahi, 44, has been found guilty of murdering his ex-partner Vivienne Baraka, 35, at her Ealing flat after years of violent abuse. Baraka texted her mother for help minutes before her death, fearing Gitahi would kill her if she left. Sentencing is due in October.
Business
Janes Bakery has bought most of Coughlans' 31 shops, reopening 25 under its name. The Thornton Heath site, transferred to Smitham Lodge Estates Ltd before liquidation, remains excluded. Redundant staff were notified by text and may reapply for their jobs.
Council & Politics
Council & Politics
Council & Politics
Property & Planning
Council & Politics
Crime & Safety
Start with the boroughs, the morning edition and the reporting network behind it.
A considered capital-wide edit delivered each morning.
News London reads borough, regional and national outlets without treating republished copy as independent confirmation.
Reporting rooted in individual London communities.
Crime & Safety
Border Force officers at London Gateway Port in Essex intercepted 2.9 tonnes of cocaine worth over £200 million on 6 August 2026. Nine men were arrested and later released on bail. The National Crime Agency said the seizure disrupted organised crime profits.
Council & Politics
Croydon Council has agreed to conduct a scoping review of safety measures on Grange Road, Upper Norwood, after a petition signed by 1,160 residents called for action. The review follows pressure from MP Steve Reed, who criticised the council’s initial refusal to investigate.
Council & Politics
Lewisham Council has acknowledged a technical fault affecting the recognition of a Catford resident’s parking permit, leading to 13 Penalty Charge Notices since July. Four tickets have been cancelled, but Ashleigh Gordon says new fines continue to arrive while she awaits a resolution.
Transport & TfL
A woman was taken to a major trauma centre after a collision at Westhorne Avenue and Burnt Ash Hill on 10 August 2026. The incident closed the eastbound carriageway, diverted bus route 160, and caused congestion on the A205 South Circular.
Business
Breyer Holdings Limited, the Harold Hill-based firm behind Breyer Roofing and Breyer Repar, has appointed administrators after failing to meet debt obligations. Its 285 employees face an uncertain future while proposals are prepared for creditors by early October.
Local News
Around 80 firefighters and 12 fire engines responded to two separate grass fires in Rainham and Greenford on Tuesday evening. The blazes damaged four hectares of heathland and one acre of trees, with no injuries reported. Both fires were extinguished within two hours.
Council & Politics
Four London boroughs have told Chancellor John Healey that their residents will pay £270m of the £430m annual mansion tax, due to start in April 2028. The levy of £2,500 to £7,500 on homes worth over £2m will not fund local services, council leaders said.
Culture & Arts
Arsenal have completed the £75m signing of Bruno Guimarães from Newcastle United, with manager Mikel Arteta stating the midfielder’s arrival will push the squad forward. Guimarães was introduced to fans at Emirates Stadium but did not feature in the pre-season friendly against Borussia Dortmund.
The London view
News London connects borough reporting without flattening the places into a single generic feed.
Choose a borough →National and international developments shaping life in the capital.
World
AREV Saint-Tropez, designed by Luis Bustamante, opened in 2024 on the site of the former Lou Troupelan hotel. The 35-room property features the largest heated pool in Saint-Tropez, rooms from £505 per night, and a design inspired by sailing culture and the Côte d’Azur.
World
The English Football Association will withdraw its backing for Gianni Infantino’s re-election as FIFA president in 2027, aligning with UEFA and the Football Association of Wales after his failed attempt to sell World Cup stakes to private investors.
World
Tony Livesey has left BBC Radio 5 Live after 16 years at the station. His departure follows allegations against his former boss, David Sullivan, regarding predatory behaviour. Livesey has denied claims that he arranged a meeting between Sullivan and an alleged victim in 1999.
World
NatureScot’s board refused a licence for the 2026 guga hunt on Sula Sgeir, citing potential harm to gannet populations. The decision spares up to 2,000 young birds but does not rule out future hunts, as campaigners urge legal reforms to end the practice.
World
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has proposed using the Royal Navy to intercept small boats crossing the English Channel and return migrants to France or Belgium. The plan, called 'Operation Fortress', would involve a joint military command but no 'pushbacks', the party said. Home Office figures show 1,176 migrants crossed in the last week of August 2026.
World
England and Wales experienced their driest July on record in 2026, according to provisional Met Office statistics. Nineteen counties recorded 1mm or less rainfall, while southern England saw its hottest July, with the UK and England marking their second hottest.
World
Research Resource Archaeology uncovered significant parts of a German V1 flying bomb, including an almost intact Argus pulse-jet engine, at Chetney Marsh in Kent. The 1944 crash site offers rare evidence of wartime interception techniques.
World
A one-day Lego festival at Brentwood Centre on 16 August will feature speed building competitions, master builder challenges and trader stalls. Tickets start at £6 for children and £8 for adults, with a £20 family ticket available online.
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No-fault eviction ended on 1 May 2026. Most of the advice still online was written before that date and is now wrong.
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News London is a free, independent local news site covering London, including Westminster, City of London, Camden, Islington, Hackney, Tower Hamlets. It reads 49 named news sources, scores how well each story was reported, and publishes its own account with the original reporting linked. 542 stories have been published so far. Every article is free to read, with no paywall and no registration.
News London is a local news publication covering Greater London — all 32 boroughs and the City of London. It aggregates reporting from 49 named news outlets, assesses how well each story was reported, and publishes its own account with the original sources linked.
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